Two legendary manga and anime creators are being recognised by the Japanese government.
The Japanese government has announced the recipients of the Spring 2026 Conferment of Decorations, with Yoshiyuki Tomino and Machiko Satonaka being inducted into the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon class, which is known as the Third Class of the honour.
The presentation ceremony is scheduled for 12 May.
What is the Order of the Rising Sun?
The Order of the Rising Sun (Kyokujitsu-shō) is one of Japan’s national honours, first established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji.
It was also the first decoration awarded by the Japanese government, created to recognize individuals for their contributions to Japanese society, culture, public service, and international relations.
Why was Yoshiyuki Tomino honoured?
Yoshiyuki Tomino is known as the creator and director of Mobile Suit Gundam, which first aired in 1979 and went on to become one of anime’s most influential and enduring franchises.
He first entered the anime industry through Mushi Production, where he worked on the original Astro Boy television anime from 1963 to 1966. Over the decades, Tomino has directed numerous anime titles, including Space Runaway Ideon, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, Turn A Gundam, and Gundam Reconguista in G, to name a few.
The Japanese government previously named Tomino a Person of Cultural Merit in 2021. He has also received honors from the Tokyo Anime Award Festival and Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, among other recognitions.
Why was Machiko Satonaka honoured?
Machiko Satonaka made her manga debut in 1964 while still in high school with Pia no Shouzou. Since then, she has created numerous influential shojo manga titles, including Lady Ann, Karyudo no Seiza, Ashita Kagayaku, Tenjou no Niji, and Aries no Otome-tachi.
Beyond manga, Satonaka has also held several leadership and academic positions, including serving as a professor at Osaka University of Arts, and as director of organizations such as the Japan Cartoonists Association and Manga Japan.
She has received multiple honors throughout her career, including the Kodansha Manga Award and the Japanese government’s Person of Cultural Merit recognition in 2023.
Who are other anime or manga creators distinguished by the Order of the Rising Sun?
The Order of the Rising Sun has honoured a number of people affiliated with the anime and manga industry, they are:
Manga creators:
- Moto Hagio
- Go Nagai
- Leiji Matsumoto
- Sanpei Sato
- Takao Saito
- Ryohei Saigan
- Yoji Kuri
- Shigeru Mizuki
Anime directors and composers:
- Rintaro
- Yoji Kuri
- Nobuhiko Obayashi
- Joe Hisaishi
- Koichi Sugiyama