1UP: How do you feel about the millions of people who have been touched by your music? Most people remember the Super Mario Bros. theme to this day.

KK: Of course, at the time we were working on those games, I could not have imagined that they would be played by so many people — I had no idea whatsoever. That was 20 years ago, though, so looking back on it today, I’m so very happy that we are able to reach so many people then.

1UP: The Super Mario Bros. main theme is by far the most recognized theme from a videogame. Do you think it’s possible for something as catchy and memorable to be created again? Or is that no longer possible with the shift from the relatively simple melodies of back then to the larger, often orchestrated melodies of today?

KK: Personally, I think the effort in trying to create a song that has such an impression on people is exactly the same as it was then — nothing has changed in that respect. The orchestration hasn’t changed the way I go about trying to create a melody. Now, whether or not I can create something as memorable or impactful as the original Super Mario Bros. theme, I don’t know — but I’m certainly aiming to try.

1UP: Can you tell us what that was like working on Super Mario Bros. at the time? How was it working with Shigeru Miyamoto?

You can read his response, and the full interview here.