Shigeru Miyamoto receives cultural honor

The Japanese government announced on Friday, October 23, 2026, that Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario video game character, is among the eight recipients of the Order of Culture for 2026. This is the first time someone from the video game industry has received this prestigious honor.

Ceremony date and location

The emperor will present the award on Tuesday, November 3, at the imperial palace in Tokyo. This ceremony marks a significant recognition of Miyamoto's contributions to Japanese culture through his work in gaming.

Miyamoto reflects on his career

During a press conference on October 22 at Nintendo's headquarters in Kyoto, Shigeru Miyamoto shared reflections on his early days at the company. The event was organized to celebrate his Order of Culture award, as reported by Denfaminicogamer on October 23.

Super Mario Bros. and its innovations

Miyamoto, co-creator of the Zelda and Mario franchises, shared anecdotes about the development of some of the most iconic games in video game history. He focused particularly on Super Mario Bros., released in 1985 on the NES, and highlighted its many groundbreaking features.

Non-violent boss defeat

Miyamoto noted that one of the most important inventions in Super Mario Bros. is the way players defeat the final boss, Bowser. Instead of a traditional battle, players simply jump over Bowser to make him fall into lava. This approach avoids direct combat and emphasizes movement and strategy.

Design philosophy and legacy

Miyamoto explained that this design choice was inspired by the game's mechanics, which involve constant movement to the right. He described testing the feature as "surprisingly fun" and expressed delight at its success. Over time, Mario's battles with Bowser became more direct, but the original approach emphasized simplicity and accessibility, shaping the enduring appeal of Nintendo games.