Miyamoto receives top cultural honor

Shigeru Miyamoto, a key figure in the video game industry, has been named to receive Japan's highest cultural award, the Order of Culture, for 2026. The award was announced by Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology on October 23, and Miyamoto will be recognized in the "media arts" category.

First game creator to win prestigious award

This is the first time a video game designer has been honored with the Order of Culture, an award established in 1937. Past recipients include notable figures such as painter Yokoyama Taikan, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Hideki Yukawa, and baseball legend Sadaharu Oh.

Miyamoto reacts at press conference

A press conference was held in Kyoto at Nintendo's headquarters on October 22, where Miyamoto spoke to Japanese media. He expressed humility, noting that games are not the result of one person's effort but of teamwork, and he acknowledged that games have evolved into a distinct cultural medium.

Miyamoto discusses AI's role in game design

At the press conference, Miyamoto was asked about the impact of generative artificial intelligence on game design. He mentioned that technology has made design more accessible, emphasizing the importance of individual skills such as layout sense, and suggested that AI can aid in the learning process of creation.

Miyamoto shares inspirations and advice

Miyamoto reflected on the people who influenced him, including former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi and designers Gunpei Yokoi, Shigesato Itoi, Fujio Akatsuka, and Osamu Tezuka. He encouraged young creators to develop new ideas rather than simply improve existing games and mentioned he is currently working on films while considering creating a new game at Nintendo.