Tecmo Responds to Itagaki Suit, Resignation

Company now Investigating Sexual Harassment Claims

Tecmo released a statement earlier today in response to the news that its key developer, Tomonobu Itagaki, will be leaving the company, and suing it for over a million dollars in unpaid bonuses.

The statement (in Japanese) is quite critical of Mr. Itagaki.  It mentions that a claim of sexual harassment made some time ago is still being investigated internally by Tecmo.  It also says that Mr. Itagaki has been paid annual bonuses, but the one in question was agreed upon by a previous administration.  It continues:

…The reasons for making this lawsuit public are self-centered. What’s more, this employee is filing this suit for himself and making it seem like he alone is responsible for the development of the game titles the rest of the Team Ninja staff had poured its heart into.

We will keep tabs on developments.