Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Not Going to E3 Due to Health Concerns

Nintendo of America has announced that company president Satoru Iwata will not be attending E3 2014 next week.

Polygon reports that Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has decided not to travel from Japan to Los Angeles to attend E3 2014 based on his physician's advice. Unfortunately, Nintendo did not give any specifics as to why the Big N's president was advised to stay in Japan.

"He's been instructed by his physician not to travel overseas in the immediate future, and so he will not be making the trip to Los Angeles," Nintendo vice president of corporate affairs Cindy Gordon told Polygon. "Please understand that it is business as usual for Mr. Iwata, and he continues his normal duties as president of Nintendo Co., Ltd. while he remains in Japan. As always, he will be actively involved in all of Nintendo's activities at the show."

Given that the company has chosen against hosting a live, traditional press conference as Sony, Microsoft and others are doing, it seems that Iwata's physical presence at the event would not even be necessary. If there were any major live events that required Iwata's presence, such as hosting the Super Smash Bros. Invitational tournament, it is likely that Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime would be there to take his place. Nintendo's pre-recoreded press conference will be broadcast on June 10.

We look forward to seeing what Nintendo has to bring to the table at this year's E3 and we wish president Iwata the best.