Zelda Producer Eiji Aonuma Knighted by French Government

French authorities have officially recognized The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma with a cultural honor, as reported by Kotaku.

Aonuma traveled to Paris last week for a ceremony at the French Ministry of Culture. He was appointed as a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, a prestigious award for contributions to the arts.

Culture Minister Catherine Pégard praised Aonuma as a storyteller who fuels global imagination. The developer delivered a portion of his acceptance speech in French, reportedly telling his wife, 'Thank you for following me this far, let's continue the adventure together.'

The honor was first announced in 2023. Other recipients in this class include jazz musician Kenny Garrett and manga creator Rumiko Takahashi.

Aonuma follows fellow Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto, who received the same distinction in 2006.