Quick Info
| Profession | Video game designer, director and producer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Date of Birth | 16/03/1963 |
| Age | 63 years |
| Birthplace | Nagano Prefecture, Japan |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
Latest News about Eiji Aonuma
Aonuma spoke to the press about the release of the remade Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2, which he described as making him nervous about how players will receive it. He reflected on more than 25 years guiding the Zelda series and on the next generation of developers. The remake drew on a new art style that Aonuma said was chosen so the game would not feel expected.
Aonuma formally received the title of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from France at the French Ministry of Culture, nearly three years after the honour was first announced in 2023. In his speech he thanked his wife for supporting him through his career. He joins other video game creators, including Shigeru Miyamoto, who have received the distinction.
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Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Japanese video game designer, director and producer at Nintendo, best known as the longtime producer of The Legend of Zelda series. |
|---|---|
| Born Name | Eiji Onozuka (小野塚 英二) |
| Japanese Name | 青沼 英二 |
Educational Qualification(s)
| Institution | Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music |
|---|---|
| Field | Design and moving mechanical figures |
| Graduated | 1988 |
Personal Life
| Hobby | Plays percussion as a founding member of the brass band the Wind Wakers, formed in 1995 |
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Relationships & More
| Mentor | Shigeru Miyamoto |
|---|
Family
| Spouse | Married (name not publicly confirmed in sources reviewed) |
|---|
Career
| Employer | Nintendo (1988–present) |
|---|---|
| Title | Senior Officer, Nintendo EPD |
| Early Roles | Graphic design work, including sprites for NES and SNES games |
| First Directed Title | Marvelous: Mōhitotsu no Takarajima (1996, Super Famicom) |
| Zelda Involvement | Designer on The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, later director of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker |
| Producer Credits |
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| Current Role | Group manager of Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 |
| Honours | Lifetime achievement award at the 2016 event (as listed in Wikipedia); Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, France (conferred 2023, formally received in person October 2026) |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. Joined Nintendo after graduating in 1988 and reportedly showed Shigeru Miyamoto his college work during his interview. | |
| 2. Was interested in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past before he worked on the series. | |
| 3. Considered leaving the Zelda series after The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker but was persuaded by Miyamoto to continue. | |
| 4. Has been credited on some Nintendo titles under the name Eiji Onozuka. |
