Kunio-kun and Double Dragon series creator Yoshihisa Kishimoto has died at age 64 on April 2, according to a new post made by his son on X (formerly Twitter). The post was made just a few weeks after the 40th anniversary website for the Kunio-kun series was opened.
Kishimoto’s son said, “This is the son of Yoshihisa Kishimoto, the director of Kunio-kun. I’m sharing this notice to inform you that my father passed away on April 2, 2026. Please feel free to contact me at any time for further details. I deeply appreciate all the information shared with Kunio-kun fans over the years. Thank you for your continued support.”
Kishimoto began his career in the gaming industry at Data East, where he worked on Cobra Command and Road Blaster before joining Technos Japan. At Technos Japan, Kishimoto created Renegade (Nekketsu Kouha Kunio-kun) and Double Dragon. He also went on to direct Double Dragon IV and Stay Cool, Kobayashi-san!: A River City Ransom Story.
The Kunio-kun series continues in River City Saga: Journey to the West, a new roguelike action game for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. River City Saga: Journey to the West will launch in 2026, and the game was playable for the first time at Taipei Game Show 2026, which ran through February 1 at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center in Taipei, Taiwan. The official website features an overview of River City Saga: Journey to the West‘s story, gameplay systems, and characters.
