Yoko Taro’s iconic NieR mask made it hard for him to celebrate his birthday 

Although Japanese game director Yoko Taro’s birthday isn’t until June 6, his friends and co-workers decided to surprise him a few days earlier. After the NieR Orchestra Concert in Taipei on June 1, the orchestra (helmed by conductor Eric Roth) and singers Emi Evans and J’nique Nicole surprised Yoko Taro and NieR composer Keiichi Okabe with a classical rendition of the Happy Birthday song. Okabe (who celebrated his birthday on May 26) recently turned 55 while Yoko Taro is about to be 54 years old. 

Yoko Taro took to social media to express his surprise and gratitude for the gesture but mentioned that his mask (which is based on the one worn by NieR character Emil) made it hard for him to see. The mask prevented him from fully experiencing the birthday festivities off-stage as well, as an afterparty video shows him having trouble blowing out the candles on the birthday cake: 

Yoko Taro attempted to blow out the candles through the holes in the full-face mask. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough, prompting Keiichi Okabe to do the honors for both of them. Yoko Taro’s Emil mask provides him with a degree of anonymity, but it has also led to some humorous incidents. At Anime Expo 2023, he lost his Emil disguise and ended up wearing a creepy leprechaun mask instead. Although the Emil mask may look goofy, it is a core part of Yoko Taro’s outfit and identity.