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‘Don’t listen to the rumors’: Miyazaki denies foot fetish claims, allowing Kojima to retain his crown
FromSoftware director Hidetaka Miyazaki has publicly denied rumours that he has a foot fetish, despite the recurring presence of bare feet and extremity-related imagery in his studio's games, including the Dark Souls and Demon's Souls series. The comments, reported by The Guardian, were volunteered by Miyazaki without being directly asked about the subject, as he was instead discussing the broader use of hands, feet and other body parts as recurring visual motifs in titles such as Elden Ring.
Miyazaki explained that such imagery may stem from a subconscious attempt to depict aspects of human nature, rather than any personal preoccupation with feet. He stated plainly that he does not like feet and urged people not to believe the online rumours, laughing off the speculation. The article notes this leaves Hideo Kojima, known for similar imagery in his own games, as gaming's remaining "foot" enthusiast by comparison.
In short
- Miyazaki denies having a foot fetish despite games featuring bare feet
- He says the imagery may be subconscious, not deliberate
- Comments made unprompted during a Guardian interview
Explained simply
Hidetaka Miyazaki is a Japanese video game director and the head of FromSoftware, the studio behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring. Its games often use striking images of bodies and body parts, including hands and bare feet.
Miyazaki has said these images can reflect ideas about human nature rather than a personal interest. The rumours matter mainly as part of wider online discussion about recurring symbols in games and what they might mean.
Hideo Kojima is another prominent Japanese game director, known for unusual visual details in his work. Comparisons between the two reflect a running joke among some players about the use of feet in games.