Takaya Imamura, a key figure in Nintendo’s golden era and the creator of beloved characters like Tingle and Captain Falcon, recently had to clear up a mistranslation from an interview about his work on The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

The interview, originally published in Japanese, was misinterpreted to suggest that Imamura had described his experience working on A Link to the Past as giving him “PTSD.” This caused a stir online, with some fans misreading the comment as an indication of extreme stress or trauma during the development process.
Imamura quickly stepped in to correct the misunderstanding, explaining that his actual words had been taken out of context. He clarified that while the development process was intense and challenging, he never intended to equate it to post-traumatic stress disorder. Rather, he meant that the experience left a lasting impression on him due to the high expectations and demanding nature of working on such a major title at Nintendo.
恐らくドイツで受けたインタビューだと思うのだが、その場の雰囲気で笑いを交えて答えた内容が、テキストになり、さらに英訳されると、意図せず重い印象になってしまう‥これからは気をつけよう。 https://t.co/SJLQ5l5cNj
— 今村孝矢 / Takaya Imamura (@ima_1966) February 6, 2025
This incident highlights the difficulties of translating nuanced statements, particularly when discussing emotionally charged topics. Video game history is filled with development struggles, and while A Link to the Past is now considered one of the greatest games of all time, it’s a reminder that even legendary projects come with their share of pressure.
Nintendo fans were quick to rally behind Imamura, appreciating his clarification and recognizing the importance of precise translation in gaming history. The incident also serves as a testament to how much effort goes into crafting classic titles that stand the test of time.
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