DetonatioN FocusMe (DFM) are heartbroken to announce that Nobuyuki Umezaki, the founder and CEO of DetonatioN FocusMe, passed away on July 29, 2026. He was 44 years old. His death marks the loss of one of the most pivotal figures in the growth of Japanese professional esports — a man who showed that it could be taken to the next level in the region; a man who effectively kept league going in Japan.
DetonatioN FocusMe (DFM) confirmed the news in an official statement, expressing gratitude for the support shown to Umezaki throughout his life and outlining the steps the organization would take in the wake of his passing. Umezaki stepped down from his role as Representative Director on the day he died.
DetonatioN FocusMe CEO 梅崎伸幸が逝去、享年43歳｜VALORANT4JP https://t.co/7KAbPVIl63
— VALORANT4JP (@VALORANT4JP) August 3, 2026
Leadership transition at DFM
Takuya Imaizumi, Representative Director and President of GameWith Co., Ltd., DFM's parent company, has taken on the additional role of Representative Director and President of DetonatioN Co., Ltd., effective July 29. The appointment is concurrent, meaning Imaizumi now oversees both organizations simultaneously while DFM stabilizes its leadership structure.
A wake was held on August 1, followed by a funeral the next day, with news of both only going public later. Both services drew a large number of mourners. In keeping with the wishes of Umezaki and his family, fans have been urged not to send their condolences or flowers and gifts. There is as of yet no confirmation whether a memorial service will be organized, with DFM saying it will make an announcement once a decision is reached.
How Umezaki built Japanese esports from the ground up
【訃報】弊社代表取締役社長 梅崎伸幸 逝去のお知らせ
— DetonatioN FocusMe (@team_detonation) August 3, 2026
多くの皆様に支えられ、誰よりもDFMを愛し、
いつもチームとファンの皆様を第一に想い続けた社長でした。
生前のご厚誼に、チーム一同より深く感謝申し上げます。 pic.twitter.com/j8ALfsS4hP
Born on July 1, 1983, Umezaki launched the esports team "DetonatioN" in December 2012. In January 2015, he went further, establishing DetonatioN FocusMe as Japan's first full-time professional gaming team, a milestone that players.com.ua noted helped set the standard for player compensation in the country. DFM was among the earliest Japanese organizations to introduce salaries for its professional players, a move that pushed the domestic scene toward treating competitive gaming as a legitimate career.
He kept building. In June 2015, Umezaki founded Sun-Gence Co., Ltd., where he served as Representative Director and President. Sun-Gence was later renamed DetonatioN Co., Ltd. in October 2021, following its acquisition by GameWith Co., Ltd.
Under his leadership, DFM fielded rosters across multiple titles. The organization became a regular presence at international League of Legends competitions, and its VALORANT team competed in the VCT Pacific league, beating T1 2-1 in the 2026 Pacific Stage 2 group stage. That result drew attention from the competitive community, as did the organization's broader effort to remain competitive in a regional ecosystem that has presented significant structural challenges for Japanese teams.
The League side had its own notable moment recently, ending a 340-day losing streak in the LCP, the longest such run of any team across the six Tier 1 regions.
What his legacy means for the scene
Umezaki was a trailblazer who helped to legitimize professional gaming in Japan at a time when few organizations were prepared to treat players as pros who deserved a steady pay check. After he built a full-time roster in 2015, the industry, impressed by what he was doing, followed suit.
Thanks to his efforts, DFM now competes at the top level of VALORANT and League in Asia, with players like Akame generating real buzz following strong performances in the 2026 Pacific Stage 2 group stage. It’s safe to say that the roster depth happened because of the infrastructure Umezaki spent over a decade putting in place — even if Japan as whole didn’t have a representative at the League of Legends World Championship in 2025 for the first time in a decade.
How DFM operates under Imaizumi's concurrent leadership over the coming months remains to be seen. Questions about whether the organization will name a dedicated president for its day-to-day operations will also be asked. No timeline has been announced and — for now, with so much to process — we suspect no one is in a rush. That said, with DFM's VALORANT squad still active in VCT Pacific and the League roster working to rebuild its footing in the LCP, the competitive calendar can hardly pause for the transition.
More information on any future memorial service is expected once the organization makes a formal announcement.
