Shigeru Miyamoto First Game Developer to Win Japan’s Prestigious Order of Culture Award
October 23, 2026
Shigeru Miyamoto has become the first video game developer to receive Japan’s Order of Culture Award, marking a historic honor dating back to 1937 for significant contributions to art, literature, science, technology, or culture.
Miyamoto remains a central figure at Nintendo as a brand ambassador and is involved in recent and forthcoming projects, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie, its sequel, and The Legend of Zelda adaptations in Hollywood.
Speaking at Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters, Miyamoto credited collaboration with colleagues for the achievement and said the honor is shared with many others.
Readers are invited to share their thoughts in the comments, with the article citing its source.
On AI, he compares its evolution to the move from typewriters to word processors and suggests generative AI changes the labor but not the intent of creative work.
The interview hints at a potential shift toward cross-media ventures while keeping the door open for new game or gaming-related projects in the future.
The piece includes a structured fact sheet distinguishing confirmed details from open questions and notes differences in coverage between general-news outlets and gaming-focused outlets.
Ongoing coverage and public reaction are noted, including interest in the official ceremony and Nintendo’s possible statements.
He emphasized learning from trendsetters by observing and listening rather than chasing trends, underscoring steady, independent project work.
The article provides author context, including William D’Angelo of VGChartz and his online presence.
Content was produced with AI translation services, with reference to the original Asia Business Daily publication.
Miyamoto’s stance evolved from resistance to film adaptations of Nintendo characters to openness driven by fan interest and cross-media opportunities such as theme parks.
Summary based on 38 sources
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Sources

The Japan Times • Oct 23, 2026
Shigeru Miyamoto named first video game-related recipient of Japan’s Order of Culture![Miyamoto Order of Culture: Mario Films Hit $2.3B [2026]](https://cdn.brief.news/cdn-cgi/image/fit=contain,width=160/images/links/4285b127e955979c472b9d4b27ada2392d711211ac4e440dccb1d2d3af1fe8fce0446d3dad2aed97392a57eca88045e4ad7c5331818a6d4989a77641fd68bdd8.png)
Tech Insider • Oct 24, 2026
Miyamoto Order of Culture: Mario Films Hit $2.3B [2026]
