When the MOTHER 3 Times launched in August 1997’s issue of Dengeki Nintendo 64, Art Director Benimaru Itoh announced a “MOTHER 3 Performer Contest” would be held.

Because MOTHER 64 was all about engaging the player in the world, Itoh wanted to make one lucky fan’s day and have an NPC in the game modeled off their image! The magazine proved to be the best opportunity to reach out to fans, and thus an application process was started through mail-in.

Readers who were interested were asked to send a letter about themselves and a photo. Each and every application would also go through a multi-round screening process! First they would be sent to the editors at Dengeki, and then reviewed by Benimaru Itoh himself.

In volume 2 of the Times, Itoh admitted, “There are so many of them […] Next time I would like to get with Itoi-san and choose the best one.”

The next issue of the magazine, published in October 1997, featured a round table discussion between Shigesato Itoi (Creator), Atsushi Kakuta (Director), Toshinao Aoki (Enemy Designer), and of course – Itoh as well. Dubbed the “Selection Committee,” the four of them gathered around and reviewed all the strongest applicants.

One person in particular that caught their eye is known as “M.T.,” who’s appearance was inspired by Zangief from Street Fighter. Itoi proclaimed his story about finding a girlfriend after ditching his mohawk was “amazing,” but couldn’t be captured with a face alone. Aoki asked if an enemy could be made out of him, but Itoh refused: “…wouldn’t you hate it if you were killed? I’m sure they’d say, “this isn’t what I expected!”

Itoi responded in a way most would expect from him: “I do love to betray expectations like that.”

As they continued to review the applicants, the Selection Committee decided on three finalists:

• Hiroki Mukodani, a 12 year old boy with a face full of charm.
• Akira Sasaki, a man with eyebrows so perfect, they looked painted on.
• Taira Imamura, a young woman with a profound collection of MOTHER memorabilia.

Although they came to a decision privately, they said they would wait to disclose it in the next issue of Dengeki!

Since the team was looking for an impressionable face first and foremost, Hiroki was selected as the winner of the contest. He forwarded his words of gratitude to the magazine by saying, “Thank you very much! I’m very happy to be in the game. I’m going to show all my friends!”

His role in the game was sworn in secrecy, however. Volume 5 only reported Hiroki left home and was missing somewhere “in MOTHER 3 Land.” Later in July 1998’s issue, Hiroki was spotted with a strange man inside Thomas’ General Store, where he was recorded saying: “I want to eat some deep fried shrimp with chili.”

After that incident, Hiroki was never heard from again. His fifteen minutes of fame lived in the pages of Dengeki Nintendo 64; but he remains a great subject of speculation among MOTHER 64‘s most devoted fans!