Shigeru Miyamoto

Shigeru Miyamoto is a Japanese video game designer. He was born in Sonobe, Japan, in 1952. He created some of the most famous video games in history. Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Donkey Kong all came from his creative mind.

Early Life

Miyamoto grew up in the countryside of Japan. As a child, he loved exploring caves, forests, and rivers near his home. He enjoyed drawing and dreaming up stories. These childhood adventures later inspired the worlds in his video games.

Creating Iconic Games

In 1981, Miyamoto created Donkey Kong, which introduced the character Mario. Super Mario Bros. became one of the best-selling games of all time. The Legend of Zelda let players explore a vast fantasy world. Miyamoto is often called the father of modern video games.

Fun Facts

• Mario was originally called Jumpman in the first Donkey Kong game.
• The Legend of Zelda was inspired by Miyamoto's childhood exploring caves.
• Miyamoto also created the Star Fox and Pikmin game series.

Did You Know?

Shigeru Miyamoto does not like to drive to work because he prefers to bike. He says biking helps him think of new game ideas.