## Who Is Miyamoto?
Shigeru Miyamoto was born in 1941 in a small village near Kyoto. As a child he loved playing in mountains, caves, and the great outdoors. Those adventures later became the ideas for his games. He joined Nintendo in 1977 and soon started designing games.

## First Big Hit: Donkey Kong
In the early 1980s Miyamoto made an arcade game. In the game a little man wearing a red cap tries to stop a naughty monkey. That little man later became known as “Mario.” Donkey Kong became super popular worldwide and started the Mario series.

## The Birth of The Legend of Zelda
Miyamoto turned the mountains and caves he explored as a kid into a video‑game world. The first Zelda game came out in 1986. It let players solve puzzles in mysterious caves and use tools like a slingshot. The game sold more than 156 million copies and became one of the best‑selling series ever.

## Why the Award Matters
On November 3, during Japan’s Culture Day celebrations, Miyamoto will receive the “Cultural Award.” This award is one of Japan’s highest honors and only a few people have ever earned it. Miyamoto will be the first game designer to win it.

## Did You Know?
- Miyamoto picks character names from real life. For example, Mario’s name comes from Mario Segale, the owner of Nintendo’s U.S. office.
- The slingshot used in Zelda works the same way as a real slingshot Miyamoto made from sticks he collected as a child.
- He has worked at Nintendo for more than 50 years and helped create other famous games like Star Fox and Pikmin.

## Touching Kids’ Lives
Miyamoto’s games help kids solve problems, spark creativity, and teach teamwork. Getting through tough Mario levels teaches patience and strategy, while solving Zelda puzzles strengthens logical thinking.

## Looking Ahead
In 2027 a live‑action movie will bring Zelda characters back to life on the big screen. Miyamoto’s award shows that the video‑game world is now seen as an important cultural treasure. Kids can look forward to many new adventures from award‑winning creators in the future.

## Summary
Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of legendary games like Mario and Zelda, will receive Japan’s top cultural award. The prize celebrates the value he adds to the world of games and how he fuels children’s imaginations. Miyamoto’s story teaches kids the importance of creativity, perseverance, and exploring new worlds.