Masahiro Sakurai Receives Japanese Government Award for YouTube Channel on Game Development

Masahiro Sakurai, the celebrated creator behind Nintendo’s Kirby and Super Smash Bros.

franchises, has been recognized by the Japanese government’s Agency for Cultural Affairs.

The influential designer was named a recipient of the prestigious Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists, an acknowledgment typically reserved for significant cultural contributions.

This time, the award highlights not Sakurai's industry-shaping game titles, but his impact as an educator through his YouTube channel, "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games." Launched in 2022, Sakurai’s YouTube channel quickly became a valuable resource for both novice and veteran game developers.

With content presented in both Japanese and English, Sakurai shared practical lessons on a variety of key industry topics including user interface design, animation, game marketing, and insights from his extensive career at Nintendo.

The channel has amassed a global following, offering rare behind-the-scenes perspectives on the creative process that defined iconic IP like Kirby for the Nintendo Game Boy and the multi-million selling Super Smash Bros.

series for Nintendo Switch and other platforms. Upon receiving the government honor, Sakurai expressed his appreciation to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, humorously adding that the recognition might allow him to consider himself a "cultural figure." His acceptance, originally shared on the platform X and translated by global outlets, further emphasized his dedication to advancing the craft of interactive entertainment.

In addition to this cultural accolade, Sakurai was recently presented with the AMD Award for Lifetime Achievement, underscoring his impact on the gaming industry at large. While Sakurai uploaded his final regular instructional video in late 2024, the "Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games" YouTube channel remains active, most recently releasing compilations of the channel’s most instructive segments.

Throughout its run, the channel consistently emphasized the importance of thoughtful design and player-first development philosophy, reflecting the tenets that have defined Sakurai’s work for decades. The achievements highlighted by these awards reflect not only Sakurai’s creative legacy at Nintendo, but also his ongoing influence through educational outreach.

As game development continues to evolve, figures like Masahiro Sakurai play a crucial role in mentoring the next generation of industry talent, ensuring that the standards of quality and creativity are upheld well into the future.

Kirby Super Smash Bros Masahiro Sakurai Smash Bros YouTube Agency for Cultural Affairs Sakurai