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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Shigeru Miyamoto

Shigeru Miyamoto is a Japanese video game designer, producer, and artist best known for creating major Nintendo franchises including Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, F-Zero, and Pikmin.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Shigeru Miyamoto is a Japanese video game designer best known for creating Nintendo's most iconic franchises. He has been a creative force at Nintendo since 1977.

What it is

Shigeru Miyamoto is a Japanese video game designer, producer, and artist. He created major franchises including Mario, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and more. He joined Nintendo in 1977 and rose to senior leadership roles.

Key details

Miyamoto's breakthrough came with Donkey Kong in 1981. He went on to originate or co-create Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, F-Zero, and Pikmin. These series became central to Nintendo's identity and global success.

Why it matters

Miyamoto is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in video game history. In 2019, Japan named him a Person of Cultural Merit, reportedly the first video game developer to receive the honour. His work has shaped the industry for decades.

In short

  • Joined Nintendo in 1977 as a designer.
  • Created Donkey Kong, Mario, Zelda, and other hit franchises.
  • Held senior leadership roles at Nintendo.
  • Recognized as a Person of Cultural Merit in 2019.
Canadian angle

Canadian readers may know Miyamoto through globally influential Nintendo franchises that have been widely released in Canada on consoles such as the NES, Wii, and Switch.

Quick questions

Who is Shigeru Miyamoto?
He is a Japanese video game designer, producer, and artist best known for creating many of Nintendo’s most famous franchises.
What is he best known for?
He is best known for creating major Nintendo franchises such as Donkey Kong, Mario, and The Legend of Zelda.
What honour did he receive in 2019?
He was named a Person of Cultural Merit in Japan, reportedly the first video game developer to receive the award.

Sources

  1. German Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_Miyamoto
    Supports: Joined Nintendo in 1977 after studying at Kanazawa College of Art.
  2. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/culture-magazines/miyamoto-shigeru
    Supports: Birth date and place; Nintendo role; major games and franchises.
  3. MarioWiki — https://www.mariowiki.com/Shigeru_Miyamoto
    Supports: Nintendo positions and 2019 Person of Cultural Merit recognition.
  4. Portuguese Wikipedia — https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_Miyamoto
    Supports: Franchises created or co-created for Nintendo.
  5. Deutsche Welle — https://www.dw.com/en/shigeru-miyamoto-turns-70/a-63764252
    Supports: Birth date, 1977 Nintendo start, Donkey Kong, Zelda, leadership role.