After a long period of silence, Monster Hunter Rise director Yasunori Ichinose made a surprise return to social media on February 19, and fans in Japan could not be happier about it.

While the official Monster Hunter Rise X account has been consistently active with updates about the game and the broader series, Ichinose himself had gone quiet for quite some time. His absence was long enough that rumors began circulating online suggesting he had left Capcom entirely. Though these rumors had no basis in fact, they spread far enough to genuinely worry a portion of the Japanese fanbase.

ライズディレクターの一瀬です

お久しぶりです
応援してくれている皆様、今年もたくさんのチョコやファンレター、イラストなどたくさんありがとうございました

---

Follow us on Twitter Follow @GamerBraves and Tweet us Tweet to @GamerBraves

---

開発一同感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです… pic.twitter.com/WCt1PuV5La

— モンスターハンターライズ：サンブレイク公式 (@MH_Rise_JP) February 19, 2026

His February 19 post put those concerns to rest. In it, Ichinose thanked fans for their support, specifically calling out the chocolates, fan letters, and illustrations sent in this year. He also gave a lighthearted nod to the items fans addressed to the residents of Kamura Village and Elgado Outpost — the main hub areas from Monster Hunter Rise and its Sunbreak expansion — joking that the village postman Senri was working hard to get everything delivered.

No game-related announcements were made in the post, but that did not seem to matter much. Fans responded warmly, with many expressing relief that he had not left Capcom after all, and showing appreciation for everything he has contributed to the series.

The replies also came with a wave of requests. Many fans called on Ichinose to direct the next Monster Hunter game, with some going as far as calling him “the series’ only hope,” a sentiment that appears to be tied to the mixed reception surrounding Monster Hunter Wilds. There were also numerous comments asking him to bring Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak and Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate to the Nintendo Switch 2, both titles he directed.