Hideo Kojima Reveals Nightmarish Dreams Featuring Decomposing Bodies and Rude Coaches

Hideo Kojima is a true visionary in the gaming world, and even if he downplays it, his imagination knows no bounds—his creativity flows even in his dreams.

Recently, Kojima took to Twitter to share a “nightmarish memo” from a dream he had back in early 2017. He mentioned that he’s always had a plethora of bad dreams, and someone once suggested he keep a dream diary. Although he eventually stopped documenting them, he decided to share one particularly bizarre experience.

In this dream, Kojima finds himself moving solo to a hot spring town, living in a boarding house that only has a back entrance, nestled among narrow, winding alleyways. He describes these alleys as so cramped and cluttered that only one person can pass through at a time.

In a bid to make a good impression on his new neighbors, Dream Kojima takes it upon himself to tidy up the paths that serve as the main walkways. Since these paths are just packed dirt, he starts spraying water with a hose to keep the dust down. That’s when things take a strange turn.

As he’s cleaning, he encounters various locals—most of whom are voluptuous nude women resembling figures from artistic sketches, alongside elderly men covered in scars who speak in foreign tongues. Quite the eclectic cast!

But the oddities don’t stop there. After completing his task, Dream Kojima heads back to his room, only to discover that four decomposing corpses are buried along the path, their upper halves eerily exposed. They remind him of artistic swimming, perfectly aligned in the dirt.

Despite the unsettling scene, Dream Kojima remains composed and decides to call the police. However, just as he turns to do so, the corpses spring to life, shuffling toward his room as if it were their own.

Then, the doorbell rings, signaling a new arrival. At that moment, the decomposing bodies transform into young men in relay race uniforms. A man who appears to be their coach enters without removing his shoes and starts scolding the athletes, though Kojima can’t recall what the coach was upset about.

This dream leaves us with a multitude of questions. What could have possibly angered the corpse coach, and why didn’t he bother to take off his shoes? The mysteries of Kojima’s dream diary are tantalizing, and it would be fascinating to see more of what the mind of the Metal Gear creator conjures up.

With new projects like OD and Physint on the horizon, Kojima has indicated that Kojima Productions is entering its “Third Phase,” focusing on “staying grounded and laying solid foundations” in 2026.