https://www.gonintendo.com/contents/66431-shigeru-miyamoto-becomes-the-first-game-dev-to-win-japan-s-order-of-culture-award

Accepting the award, the now 73 year old developer said: 

"I feel incredibly embarrassed, but I am truly honoured to have been selected for such a prestigious award.

As I always say, I don't make games by myself. This award is the result of working together with many people, so I intend to accept it as a representative of them.

Especially recently, I've had the opportunity to work with many people in genres other than games, such as Universal Studios Japan's "Super Nintendo World" and the film business. I would like to share the joy of this award with all of you.

Recently, there have been a lot of anniversaries, such as the 40th anniversary of Zelda , and I myself have been introducing myself as having "been making games for 45 years." However, when I think about it, I joined Nintendo in 1977 and immediately started working on games, so it's actually been 50 years. It's easier to count, so I 'll talk about it as "50 years" this time.

Fifty years ago, I became involved with "games," a medium that was barely tangible at the time, and I've been able to work in this field ever since. I think I'm receiving this kind of treatment because I was there from the very beginning, and I feel like I've had a very lucky life."

Legend

He does not need to be this humble about it. Mad respect to the lad. Sure today teams on games are large, but back then it was just a handful of people on each production. Even if the contributions to the gaming medium from a single person has declined no one can take away the success of the first few games this man had a major roll creating.

Couldn't imagine seeing anybody else but him as the first to receive this. Deserves every level of respect for what he's given us.

Probably the best there was and the best there ever will be in gaming.

Man as the guy behind Mario..... your legacy is going to be fine no matter what anyways.

Like imagine that not being enough?
What more would they want from a game developer? It would be a impossible task, if that wasn't good enough.

Hard to believe he hasnt received this sooner.

Yeah I was gonna say, props to him for being so humble given his legacy. I think a lot of people in his position would have let fame go to their heads.

Creator of Pikmin, right there! Absolute legend and fully deserved.