Hideo Kojima recalls job interview struggles before joining Konami

Hideo Kojima has reflected on his early job-hunting struggles in an essay for Japanese lifestyle magazine An An, inspired by the 2024 film “Rokunin no Usotsuki na Daigakusei” (“Six Lying College Students”).

Kojima recalled that in 1985 he dreamed of a creative career but faced rejection due to coming from “a second-rate private university” without overseas study, sports clubs, or useful connections. He admitted that lying often became part of the hiring process, as applicants were forced to hide their true selves to fit company expectations.

The turning point came during an interview with a medical equipment manufacturer, where Kojima openly shared his ambitions. To his surprise, the HR manager encouraged him to pursue a creative field — advice that led him to focus on the game industry. In 1986, he joined Konami, eventually creating the iconic Metal Gear series before founding Kojima Productions and releasing Death Stranding.

Kojima concluded that job interviews are often “a place where lies meet lies,” but said he now approaches them differently as an interviewer himself — choosing to stay honest with students, just as one HR manager once did for him.