Hiroyuki Itoh
Creator of Hatsune Miku | Founder & CEO, Crypton Future Media | Professor, Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics | On Creativity, Virtual Artists & Co-Creation
Yuji Horii
Creator of Dragon Quest | Writer & Supervisor of Chrono Trigger | CEO, Armor Project | Pioneer of the Japanese RPG & Order of the Rising Sun Honoree
Yuji Horii is the creator of Dragon Quest, the franchise that defined the Japanese RPG and grew into a cultural institution with 80+ million copies sold. A master storyteller who also wrote the beloved Chrono Trigger, he has spent four decades making interactive worlds feel welcoming to everyone. In 2025 he became the first game creator to receive Japan's Order of the Rising Sun. On stage, he shares a rare view of creativity and storytelling.
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Yuji Horii biography
Yuji Horii is the legendary game designer, writer, and director best known as the creator of Dragon Quest, the franchise that defined the Japanese role-playing game and became one of the most beloved cultural institutions in his native Japan. A storyteller first and foremost, Horii helped transform video games into a medium for narrative, character, and emotion, shaping how tens of millions of players around the world experience interactive adventure.
Technology speaker Yuji Horii began his career as a freelance writer before winning an Enix-sponsored programming contest that launched him into game development. In 1983 he created The Portopia Serial Murder Case, a pioneering visual-novel mystery that later inspired Hideo Kojima to enter the industry. Then, in 1986, he created Dragon Quest, drawing on Western computer RPGs but reimagining them with an intuitive, welcoming design for everyday players. The result became the blueprint for the entire console RPG genre and a phenomenon so woven into Japanese life that new releases have been treated as national events.
The Storyteller Behind a National Treasure
As CEO of his own studio, Armor Project, Horii has guided every mainline Dragon Quest game for nearly four decades, while also supervising and writing the scenario for the classic Chrono Trigger, widely regarded as one of the greatest games ever made. The Dragon Quest series has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide and remains a creative and commercial force, with new entries, remakes, and the upcoming Dragon Quest XII continuing the story. His influence has been recognized with a Game Developers Conference Lifetime Achievement Award and, in 2025, Japan’s Order of the Rising Sun, making him the first video game creator ever to receive the honor.
As a speaker, Yuji Horii offers a rare and inspiring perspective on creativity, storytelling, and building something that endures. He speaks on designing for the player rather than the expert, the craft of interactive narrative, the discipline of making complex things feel simple, and how a single creative vision can grow into a cultural touchstone spanning generations. Audiences gain insight from one of the true architects of modern gaming, told with the warmth and humility for which he is known.
Yuji Horii Speaking Videos
DRAGON QUEST in Japan: Special Interview with Yuji Horii
5 Things We Learned from Dragon Quest Creator Horii-San
Yuji Horii Keynote Topics
When Yuji Horii created Dragon Quest, his goal was to make role-playing games approachable for ordinary players, not just experts. He shares the design philosophy behind that breakthrough, why removing friction and respecting the player matters, and how making complex experiences feel simple and welcoming can turn a product into a phenomenon.
From an early visual-novel mystery to the epic narratives of Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger, Horii has spent his career telling stories through play. He explores how character, emotion, and narrative work differently in interactive media, and what creators in any field can learn about engaging an audience and making them part of the story.
Dragon Quest has remained beloved for nearly forty years, passed from one generation to the next. Horii reflects on how to sustain a creative property over decades, balancing tradition with reinvention, honoring fans while welcoming newcomers, and keeping a clear creative vision at the center as the world changes around it.
Reflecting on a career that earned him Japan's Order of the Rising Sun, Horii shares the principles that have guided him: start by actually making something rather than only thinking about it, stay curious, and never forget the people you are creating for. It is a candid, generous talk on the creative life from one of its modern masters.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Yuji Horii
Why Yuji Horii?
Booking Yuji Horii brings audiences face to face with one of the most important and beloved creators in the history of video games. As the creator of Dragon Quest, the writer behind Chrono Trigger, and a pioneer of the Japanese role-playing game, he has shaped an entire genre and built a franchise that has sold more than 80 million copies and become a cultural touchstone in Japan and beyond. His insights on storytelling, player-first design, and sustaining creativity over decades resonate well past gaming, speaking to anyone interested in craft, innovation, and connecting with an audience. Warm, humble, and globally respected, recently honored with Japan's Order of the Rising Sun, he is a remarkable and rarely available speaker for events on technology, creativity, design, and entertainment. To bring Yuji Horii to your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Did Yuji Horii create Dragon Quest?
Yes. Yuji Horii created Dragon Quest, first released in 1986, and has served as its designer and scenario writer ever since. Drawing on early Western computer RPGs but redesigning them to be intuitive and welcoming, his game established the template for the Japanese console role-playing game. Through his studio Armor Project, Horii has continued to lead the series, which has sold more than 80 million copies worldwide.
What else has Yuji Horii worked on?
Beyond Dragon Quest, Yuji Horii created The Portopia Serial Murder Case (1983), an influential early visual-novel adventure that inspired Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima, and he supervised and wrote the scenario for Chrono Trigger (1995), considered one of the greatest video games of all time. He is also behind the Itadaki Street series and remains CEO of his studio, Armor Project.
What topics does technology speaker Yuji Horii cover?
Yuji Horii speaks on player-centered design, the craft of interactive storytelling, building creative properties that endure, and lessons from a four-decade career in game design. His perspective suits events in technology, design, entertainment, and innovation, as well as audiences seeking inspiration from a creator who turned a single idea into a lasting cultural institution. To book Yuji Horii as a speaker, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Yuji Horii as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Yuji Horii as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Yuji Horii's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Yuji Horii or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Yuji Horii speaking fee?
Yuji Horii speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Yuji Horii to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Yuji Horii.
How can I contact Yuji Horii?
We only work with Yuji Horii on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Yuji Horii and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Yuji Horii speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Yuji Horii for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Yuji Horii for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Yuji Horii is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Yuji Horii for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
