Shigeru Miyamoto Will Be the First Video Game Developer to Receive Japan’s Order of Culture
The Nintendo executive is one of eight Media Arts recipients, and the Emperor will present the award on Nov. 3, 2026.
Shigeru Miyamoto will become the first video game developer to receive Japan’s Order of Culture when the Emperor presents the honor on Nov. 3, 2026. The Japanese government selected the Nintendo representative director and executive fellow as one of eight recipients.
Established in 1937, the Order of Culture recognizes contributions to art, literature, science, and technology. Miyamoto was selected in the Media Arts category, and the ceremony will take place on Japan’s Culture Day.
The Order is distinct from earlier recognition of game creators. Miyamoto was named a Person of Cultural Merit in 2019, while Masahiro Sakurai received the Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists in 2025.
Miyamoto’s 49-year career at Nintendo includes creating Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong. In a Game Watch interview, translated by Automaton, he credited the colleagues who worked alongside him: “As I have often said, these achievements were not the work of one person, but the result of collaboration with many others. I accept this honor on their behalf.”
His work has also reached beyond games, including Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan and film projects tied to Nintendo’s franchises. Miyamoto hopes to share the achievement with people who collaborated with him on those projects, too.
Two days after the ceremony, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake is scheduled to launch exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2, extending the reach of a series Miyamoto helped create.
Which of Miyamoto’s creations has left the clearest mark on your gaming life? For more on Nintendo’s projects across games, films, and theme parks, follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
