This is so sudden... Nobody should die so young.
I do remember that he was still in recovery after surgery when he presented the New3DS last summer, as I was myself. It's... hard.
Now I understand why he was looking for someone else for the directs. He fought against his illness and for his company to the very end. He was a great leader, may he rest in peace.
PS : just checked, he underwent surgery the exact same week as I did. Damn...