DetonatioN FocusMe CEO Nobuyuki Umezaki dies at 44

DetonatioN FocusMe announced the death of its president and CEO, Nobuyuki Umezaki, who was 44. The organisation said Umezaki retired as Representative Director on the day he died. GameWith Co., Ltd., DFM’s parent company, appointed Takuya Imaizumi to serve concurrently as Representative Director and President of DFM, effective July 29, 2026.

The company released a statement expressing gratitude for the support shown to Umezaki during his life and outlining the leadership change. A wake was held on August 1, 2026, followed by a funeral service on August 2, 2026; the organisation reported both events drew a large number of mourners.

In line with Umezaki’s and his family’s wishes, the organisation asked well-wishers to refrain from sending further condolences, flowers, gifts or visits of sympathy. DetonatioN FocusMe said it has not yet decided whether to hold a public memorial service and will announce any plans when a decision is made.

Umezaki was born on July 1, 1983. He founded the esports team DetonatioN in December 2012 and launched DetonatioN FocusMe in January 2015 as a full-time professional gaming team. In June 2015 he established Sun-Gence Co., Ltd., serving as its Representative Director and President; the company was renamed DetonatioN Co., Ltd. in October 2021 after it became a subsidiary of GameWith.

Under Umezaki’s leadership, DetonatioN FocusMe fielded teams across multiple game titles and operated as a professional esports organisation in Japan. The organisation thanked those who attended the services and those who supported Umezaki professionally and personally during his career.

The announcement did not provide a cause of death and included no direct quotations.