“I really respect Mr. Oshii as a creator, but as a person too. I've known him for 26 years and owe him for a number of things. Thanks to this show, I was able to meet with him again.”
Kojima devoted episodes 3 and 4 of his podcast Brain Structure (September 2022) to a two-part conversation with director Mamoru Oshii, whom he had known for about 26 years and whom he had not seen for roughly six years. At their farewell he said it did not feel like that much time had passed and that he was glad to see Oshii doing well; he said that during the pandemic neither of them felt sure about sending emails to the other, and he thanked the program for enabling their reunion. He said he respected Oshii as a creator and as a person and owed him a number of things; another visit to talk about The Phantom Pain and the desire to finally do something together remained in the air.
“Today, we also have a guest, Director Mamoru Oshii. […] You two haven't seen each other in quite some time, correct? Around six years, I think. Have you known each other very long? Around 26 years or so”