Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto becomes first game developer to receive the Order of Culture, Japan’s highest cultural honor

On October 22, it was announced that Shigeru Miyamoto, Representative Director and Creative Fellow at Nintendo, will be awarded the Order of Culture. Bestowed by the Emperor of Japan in person, the Order of Culture is the nation’s highest cultural honor, awarded to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to the advancement of Japanese culture and science. According to domestic media, Shigeru Miyamoto is the first game developer to be chosen for the award.

The announcement was made during a press conference held at Nintendo’s headquarters in Kyoto. As reported by GameWatch, Miyamoto appeared “modest and slightly embarrassed” at the venue, commenting: “I am truly honored to receive such a prestigious award. 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.”

Coming from a background in industrial design, Miyamoto is best known as the creator of generational Nintendo franchises like Mario and The Legend of Zelda. He was chosen for the 2026 Order of Culture award among eight recipients by the Japanese government, under the field of Media Arts (Gaming). The conferment ceremony will be held on Japan’s “Culture Day,” on November 3.

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