Shigesato Itoi co-worker says it would be impossible for Itoi to create Mother 4, but they'd be glad if someone else did it

Earlier in the week, we mentioned that the most recent issue of Nintendo Dream had a feature on the 30th anniversary of the Mother series. In that feature was an interview with Yasuhiro Nagata, the editor in chief for “Hobo Nikkan Itoi Shinbun,” a website hosted by Shigesato Itoi. In a portion of the interview, a discussion of the potential for Mother 4 comes up. You can see the full discussion below, translated by JapaneseNintendo.

ND: Later after that, the information magazine BRUTUS published a dialogue between Itoi-san and Iwata-san about “MOTHER 4 is not being made”. That was also Nagata-san[‘s doing], right?

Nagata: I was in charge of the interview and its composition. The fact that “MOTHER 4 is not being released” itself has been told here and there, and we’ve always said it

ND: So after that feature came out, you’re not getting asked about it anymore?

Nagata: We get asked. It’s already shaped like a staple; even now we still keep getting asked about MOTHER 4 and the “buried treasure” (laughs)

ND: What is the current answer regarding that?

Nagata: Our stance is that it’s already impossible for Itoi to create it, and we’d be glad if someone else creates it. This has never changed either.

If Mother 4 were to ever happen, and Itoi wasn't involved, what team would you want to take it up? Is there anyone out there you'd consider worthy?