Shigeru Miyamoto First Video Game Figure to Receive Japan's Order of Culture

Shigeru Miyamoto has been selected to receive Japan’s Order of Culture, making him the first person from the video game industry to earn the honor.

The Order of Culture recognizes major contributions to Japanese arts and sciences. Japan established the award in 1937. The emperor presents it during a ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Culture Day, November 3.

Previous recipients include Nobel prize winners, writers, painters, scientists, and filmmakers. The award focuses on cultural impact rather than commercial success.

Miyamoto joined Nintendo in 1977 and built a decades-long record of influential games. His first major success came with the 1981 arcade title Donkey Kong, which introduced the character later known as Mario. In 1985 he co-created Super Mario Bros. with Takashi Tezuka, followed by The Legend of Zelda in 1986.

He directed Super Mario 64 in 1996 and served as a major producer on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 1998. Additional credits include Star Fox and Pikmin. Over time his role shifted to producing and supervising younger teams.

Recent projects extend beyond traditional console games. Super Nintendo World opened at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka in March 2021. Miyamoto produced The Super Mario Bros. Movie with Illumination in 2023.

Miyamoto already held several industry honors before this recognition. He became the first inductee into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1998. BAFTA awarded him its Fellowship in 2010.