Miyamoto named first game developer to receive Japan’s Order of Culture

The Japanese government named Shigeru Miyamoto a recipient of its Order of Culture on October 23, 2026, making him the first game developer to receive the honor.

The award ceremony takes place on November 3, 2026, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Culture Day. The Emperor of Japan will present the award to Miyamoto in person.

Miyamoto joined Nintendo in 1977 in an entry-level position and has worked there for half a century. He turned 73 on October 23, 2026, the same day as the announcement, and remains a fellow and ambassador at the company. The announcement came as he approached that half-century mark with the publisher. During a press conference at Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters, he said he was truly honored and described the achievements as the result of collaboration with many others rather than one person.

“I am truly honoured to receive such a prestigious award,” Miyamoto said. The Order of Culture recognizes achievements in art, literature, science, and technology. Previous recipients include actors, scientists, and professional athletes. Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced the award on October 23, 2026.

Miyamoto is among eight recipients picked by the Japanese government in the media arts (gaming) category for the order. GameWatch reported the selection via Automaton. The award makes Miyamoto the first person from the video game industry to receive Japan’s Order of Culture.

His works include the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong, where Mario debuted, and Mario Bros., a 1983 game he co-directed. He co-created and designed The Legend of Zelda in 1986 and produced The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 1998, the first in the series to use a three-dimensional third-person view.

Miyamoto is a native of Kyoto Prefecture and drew inspiration for The Legend of Zelda from childhood walks through rural Japan. His youth in Sonobe was surrounded by rice paddies, forests, mountains, and caves.

He produced The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023, which made more than $1.3 billion worldwide. He has also worked on Super Nintendo World and on two new Super Mario Bros. movies. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie earned more than $1 billion after premiering in April 2026. Miyamoto is producing The Legend of Zelda film set for release on April 30, 2027, and has been heavily involved in Nintendo’s recent move into Hollywood with the Super Mario Bros. movie, its sequel, and the Zelda film.

Miyamoto said video games may not have become a culture but have instead become part of everyday life. He noted that generations of parents, children, and grandparents have grown up playing video games. Miyamoto said, “Rather than becoming a culture, video games have perhaps simply become part of everyday life.”

He said he was really glad he had encountered games by the time he received the award, and he described himself as a bit embarrassed. Miyamoto said, “really glad I encountered games”. Miyamoto said, “I’m a bit embarrassed”. He imparted wisdom to aspiring developers after receiving the honor.

Miyamoto also received Japan’s Person of Cultural Merit award in 2019 for his Nintendo contributions. That honor raised the profile of the Japanese games industry around the world.

Quest creator Yuji Horii received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette last November after Japan’s autumn honors list named him the first game designer so honored. Horii said his achievements were thanks to staff and users, and he said all his hard work had paid off.