Nintendo creators Eiji Aonuma and Shigeru Miyamoto receive major cultural honors

Prominent Nintendo developers Eiji Aonuma and Shigeru Miyamoto have been recognized with prestigious cultural awards in France and Japan, respectively.

Eiji Aonuma, the longtime producer of The Legend of Zelda series, was named a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture. The ceremony, held in Paris, follows an announcement of the distinction made in 2023. Aonuma, who has been a core part of the Zelda franchise since Ocarina of Time, was praised by Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard as a storyteller who inspires imagination worldwide.

In Japan, Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Super Mario and Donkey Kong, will be awarded the Order of Culture (Bunka Kunshō) by Emperor Naruhito on November 3. Miyamoto is the first person from the video game industry to receive this honor, which has been awarded annually since 1937. During a press conference regarding the award, Miyamoto shared his views on generative AI, noting that while technology can handle repetitive execution and detail work, the fundamental importance of human design and original vision remains paramount.