Here is a sentence I by no means thought I might write: Metallic Gear and Dying Stranding creator Hideo Kojima has gone viral once more, not due to his newest in-game innovation or style in motion pictures, however due to his superhuman energy of odor and distinctive cologne.
In a personal essay written for journal AnAnWeb on the finish of final yr, Kojima recounted the time he felt compelled to tear off his personal shirt and throw it right into a crowd of followers throughout the reside recording of a finale of his radio present, KOJI10. The crew had determined to not give them away to listeners who got here to the second season finale, however Kojima went rogue on the finish of the present and threw his personal shirt into the group.
KOJI10. We’ve reached the ultimate episode. To everybody who related with us by way of the radio— thanks a lot. And thanks to the manufacturing staff, the Kojima Productions staff, Hibi chan, Yanpi san. I’ll really treasure these previous six months of my life. Till we meet once more 🫶👍 pic.twitter.com/h2X8zfZPP1
— HIDEO_KOJIMA (@HIDEO_KOJIMA_EN) September 29, 2025
“I wasn’t attempting to be a rock star; my physique simply reacted instinctively,” Kojima wrote, per machine translation. “I threw the T-shirt weakly underhand, and it was caught within the palm of a feminine fan within the entrance row. She instantly lined her face with the T-shirt, took a deep breath, and murmured, ‘It smells good!’ I do not sweat a lot, however there will need to have been a few of my ‘scent’ in it. And likewise the perfume (parfum) I often put on.
“I’ve a way more delicate sense of odor than most individuals. I’ve by no means been formally identified with ‘Hyperosmia’ by a physician, however I generally really feel sick from sure smells. After I was a baby, I felt nauseous a number of occasions from the odor of cosmetics on college go to days. That hasn’t modified even now that I am an grownup. After I trip the elevator at work, I can generally determine who was in it earlier than me by the lingering scent. I do not even like aromatherapy, so my motivation for sporting fragrance is not about style. It is to guard myself from different smells. That is why I keep away from sporting perfumes with excessive perfume concentrations.”
After a lot experimentation, Kojima mentioned his personal scent settled down in his 30s, however modified once more when he left Konami. It is this scent that followers had been attempting to decipher after he blew up on social media with followers attempting to establish what cologne/fragrance he wore.
“To be sincere, I do not need anybody to know what fragrance I am utilizing,” he added. “If it will get recognized, I will don’t have any selection however to alter my ‘scent’ once more. So, I felt not solely impressed but additionally pissed off by the followers’ inquisitiveness and enthusiasm. I want they’d use their time and power extra successfully than trying to find fragrance.”
Nonetheless, Kojima supplied hints, together with the nation the place it is made, however after responding to followers’ recommendations ultimately led to the proper reply, he stopped answering. “And simply because the ‘scent’ disappeared from the T-shirt, in lower than every week, the subject of ‘scent’ that originated on the radio additionally disappeared from social media.”
Photograph by Amy E. Value/SXSW Convention & Festivals by way of Getty Pictures.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and marketing consultant with 15+ years expertise working with among the world’s largest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.