Yuji Horii, the mastermind behind the acclaimed Dragon Quest series, has been awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun by the Japanese government. This accolade is one of Japan’s highest honors, given to individuals who have made substantial contributions in their respective fields. Notably, Horii is the first game creator to receive such recognition.
“I think it’s a great honor, I’m surprised,” Horii expressed in a video conversation with TBS. “I’ve been crafting games for about 40 years, but this achievement is thanks to the dedicated team that helped bring these games to life and the players who have always supported us.”
The Legacy of Yuji Horii
Yuji Horii began his journey with the 1983 game Love Match Tennis, which garnered attention when he entered a game contest, catching the eye of Enix. This led to his creation of the influential visual novel mystery, The Portopia Serial Murder Case. However, Horii gained legendary status for his work on the Dragon Quest series, which has enchanted players since 1986.
The recent 2D-HD remakes of the initial Dragon Quest games have reignited interest in the series’ early days. Horii is currently devoting his efforts to Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate, a much-anticipated installment announced in 2021 during the saga’s 35th anniversary celebrations.
The Future of Dragon Quest
In May, Horii verified Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate is actively in development. “Yes, indeed, I can’t say anything, I apologize,” he stated. “I am making it, putting lots of work into it… I can only say that the next work will be great too, [I’m] working really hard. Please look forward to it is the only thing I can say.” This title is expected to be the first mainline entry since 2017’s Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age.
During his TBS interview, Horii shared advice for aspiring creators: “It’s important to actually create something tangible, don’t just think about it,” he urged. “Just try making it.”
The Order of the Rising Sun includes six classes. As reported by nippon.com, Horii was honored with the 4th class: Gold Rays with Rosette. Another recipient of this distinction in 2025 was Go Nagai, the manga artist known for Devilman and Cutie Honey.
Photo by TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP via Getty Images.