Eiji Aonuma Knighted by France: Zelda Producer Receives Order of Arts and Letters in Paris
On the morning of October 23, 2026, Eiji Aonuma, the longtime producer of Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda series, was formally invested as a Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Order of Arts and Letters) at the French Ministry of Culture in Paris.
The ceremony marked the culmination of an honor first announced in November 2023 by then-Minister of Culture Rima Abdul-Malak during Paris Games Week. The presentation was delayed nearly three years until this formal event.
The Ceremony and Tributes
French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard presented Aonuma with the insignia. She described him as “a storyteller who always leaves room for the player’s imagination” and thanked him for inspiring children around the world “to dream.”
Aonuma delivered remarks in French. He closed by addressing his wife, who was in the audience: “Merci de m’avoir suivi jusqu’ici, continuons l’aventure ensemble” (“Thank you for following me this far; let’s continue the adventure together”). Journalist Chloé Woitier of Le Figaro shared images and details of the event from the Ministry of Culture.
The Order of Arts and Letters, established in the 1950s, recognizes significant contributions to the arts and literature. It has three ranks: Chevalier, Officier, and Commandeur, and can be awarded to non-French citizens. Aonuma joins a cohort that includes jazz musician Kenny Garrett, actress Richa Chadha, and manga creator Rumiko Takahashi (Ranma ½).
Aonuma joins other video game figures previously honored by France, including Shigeru Miyamoto, Michel Ancel, Frédérick Raynal, and Peter Molyneux.
Aonuma’s Career and Contributions
Born Eiji Onozuka on March 16, 1963, in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Aonuma graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts in 1988 with a master’s degree in composition design. He joined Nintendo the same year.
He became central to The Legend of Zelda starting in the late 1990s. He co-directed Ocarina of Time (1998) and Majora’s Mask (2000), directed The Wind Waker (2002), and has served as series producer since around 2007. In that role he has overseen nearly every mainline entry, including Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and Tears of the Kingdom. He is a Senior Officer in Nintendo’s Entertainment Planning & Development (EPD) division.
Earlier recognition includes a Lifetime Achievement award at the 2016 Golden Joystick Awards. He is also a founding member of the Wind Wakers, an internal Nintendo brass band in which he plays percussion.
The October 23 ceremony, held amid the 2026 Paris Games Week period, formally concluded an honor announced three years earlier.
Comments