Who is credited as the creator of the Yo-kai Watch franchise?

Akihiro Hino is credited as the creator of the Yo-kai Watch franchise.

Hino is a Japanese game designer, producer, writer, and businessman who founded Level-5 and serves as its president and chief executive. He developed Yo-kai Watch as an original Level-5 franchise and was credited with major creative roles including producer, designer, and story work on the first game.

The original Yo-kai Watch game was released in Japan in 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS. Its story follows children who encounter supernatural beings called yo-kai, drawing on Japanese folklore while presenting them through role-playing, collecting, and everyday-school-life adventures. The franchise later expanded into sequels, animation, manga, films, toys, and other merchandise.

Other names in the choices are associated with important parts of the series’ production, including direction, writing, or animation. They are not generally identified as the franchise’s creator. Hino’s role is comparable to a lead originator and creative producer rather than merely a game director on one installment.