Yuji Horii, the visionary behind the cherished Dragon Quest franchise, has been recognized with Japan’s esteemed Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, making him the first game designer to achieve such an honor. This recognition celebrates Horii’s nearly four decades of contributions to the gaming sector, especially through his involvement with the legendary role-playing game series that started in 1986. At the age of 71, Horii conveyed his appreciation to his devoted team and steadfast fans, acknowledging their part in his accomplishments.

The Order of the Rising Sun serves as Japan’s third-highest distinction, granted for exceptional service across various domains, excluding military fields. The higher accolades are the Order of the Chrysanthemum and the Order of the Paulownia Flowers, which are usually reserved for leaders and politicians.

Horii’s impact goes beyond Dragon Quest, as he was also instrumental in the development of the renowned 1995 title Chrono Trigger. This venture assembled a “Dream Team” of creators, featuring Hironobu Sakaguchi, famed for Final Fantasy, and the late Akira Toriyama, recognized for character design in Dragon Quest and the Dragon Ball manga series.

The newest installment in the Dragon Quest series, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, has recently been released on various platforms, following the triumph of Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, which became Japan’s top-selling game last year. This ongoing success highlights Horii’s lasting influence on the gaming industry.