Shigeru Miyamoto Receives the Order of Culture
Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary Nintendo game designer, will receive the Order of Culture from the Emperor of Japan on November 3, marking the first time a video game developer has earned the prestigious distinction. The honor is presented annually on Culture Day to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the development of culture, including fields ranging from sciences and literature to the arts.
Miyamoto Accepts Recognition for Collaborative Work and Projects
Miyamoto, 73, expressed both embarrassment and gratitude regarding the selection, emphasizing that the recognition reflects collaborative work rather than solitary achievement. He stated that he accepts the distinction on behalf of everyone who has shared his professional journey, noting recent cross-industry collaborations beyond traditional software development. Those projects include the Super Nintendo World theme park areas at Universal Studios and feature films based on Nintendo properties, such as The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.
Having joined Nintendo in 1977, Miyamoto currently serves as representative director and executive fellow, guiding the company’s historical transition into the video game industry. He created the iconic character Mario—who debuted in the 1981 title Donkey Kong—and co-developed foundational franchises including The Legend of Zelda and Star Fox.
Five Decades in Interactive Entertainment
Reflecting on a career spanning nearly fifty years, Miyamoto noted that he entered the industry before the artistic and technical mediums were fully defined. He expressed gratitude for remaining active in the field for decades, attributing his nomination partly to his longevity in the industry.
Previous recipients of the Order of Culture include filmmaker Akira Kurosawa, fashion designer Issei Miyake, and composer Akira Ifukube, renowned for his musical work on the Godzilla film series. The Emperor of Japan will present the medal to Miyamoto and seven other honorees during the official ceremony on November 3.
Shigeru Miyamoto has been awarded the "Order of Culture" for his contribution to Japanese culture, one of Japan’s highest honors!He will be the first person from the video game industry to receive the award. Previous recipients have been people such as Nobel prize winners and… pic.twitter.com/DitAI6R2Wy
Shigeru Miyamoto awarded Japan’s Order of Culture https://t.co/WxDFkKwkeP pic.twitter.com/oBcmKOTWsc
