Yuji Horii, Creator of Dragon Quest, Receives Prestigious Japanese Honor

Noted game designer Yuji Horii has been included in Japan's autumn honors list, marking a historic milestone as the first game designer to receive such recognition. Among the 3,963 individuals honored this year, Horii was awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, a distinction conferred upon those who have rendered distinguished service to the nation in various fields, excluding military service. As the third-highest order bestowed by the Japanese government, this accolade underscores Horii's significant contributions to the gaming industry. Best known for creating and producing the iconic Dragon Quest series of role-playing games, Horii has been instrumental in the development of every mainline title since 1986. Additionally, he serves as the CEO of Armor Project, which jointly owns the rights to Dragon Quest with Square Enix. Upon receiving the honor, Horii expressed his gratitude, stating, "My four decades in game development have been a collective effort, thanks to the dedication of my team and the unwavering support of our users." He further reflected, "Throughout my career, I have grown both personally and professionally, and I am proud to see my hard work yield such a remarkable outcome."