Yuji Horii: First Game Designer Honored with Japan’s Rising Sun Order

The creator of the legendary game Dragon Quest, Yuji Horii, has recently been granted the Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government, according to their autumn honors list. This award, one of Japan’s most prestigious recognitions, is conferred to citizens who have made extraordinary contributions within their professional domain. Horii, notably, is the first person from the gaming industry to be recognized with this honor.nnHorii expressed surprise and humility in accepting the award in a video interview. He acknowledged, “The honor is immense and unexpected. I have indeed spent about 40 years in game development, however, every game is a concerted effort. All credit should go to my supportive team and the incredible gaming community that has consistently stood by us.”nnHorii started his gaming journey in 1983 with his first game ‘Love Match Tennis’, which gained attention at a game contest organized by Enix. He subsequently gained fame with his novel-like mystery game ‘The Portopia Serial Murder Case’ and eventually his most pivotal role in designing and scripting for the enduring Dragon Quest series, running strong since 1986.nnThe recent high-definition 2D remakes of the original Dragon Quest I, II, and III games have reignited interest among the RPG enthusiast community. Furthermore, Horii is also currently invested in the development of the highly anticipated Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, the next iteration in the series announced during the 35th-anniversary celebrations in 2021.nnHorii was affirmative about Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate not being discontinued, amidst speculation, during a conversation in May. He expressed, “Yes, I’m completely engrossed in it. I’m amazed at the work being put into it and can promise that fans will find it worthwhile. I’m only allowed to say hope for the best.” This game is expected to be the first major instalment after the release of Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age in 2017.nnIn his interview, Horii also shared his advice for budding creative practitioners, emphasizing on the importance of taking action, “Turn your ideas into something concrete. Take the first step and create something.”nnThe Order of the Rising Sun is grouped into six distinct classes. As per reports, Horii was honored with the 4th class – ‘Gold Rays with Rosette’. Another notable recipient of this award in 2025 was the manga artist Go Nagai, known for his work on Devilman and Cutie Honey.