News Gran Turismo series creator Kazunori Yamauchi gets street named after him

The coveted Gran Turismo 6 launch event in Ronda, which celebrated both the release of Gran Turismo 6 and the series' 15th anniversary, has brought with it a host of announcements including various new parternships that will no doubt benefit the future of the series. One of the more unexpected announcements, however, was the news that series creator Kazunori Yamauchi will be getting a street named in honor of him in the city of Ronda.

Named “Paseo de Kazunori Yamauchi,” the street snakes around the Parador de Ronda hotel offering picturesque views of the tranquil city, as well as one of the best views of the Puente Nuevo bridge.

“Some people may find it a little strange that we have given the same honour to Yamauchi-san as to Orson Welles or Ernest Hemmingway,” Ronda's city mayor Maria de la Paz Fernandez Lobato explained.

“But, in the same way that both of them were enchanted by Ronda, so was Yamauchi-san. There is also no doubt that his work has a huge cultural resonance with people today. He has driven the racing game genre to new levels of realism and his creations are as much art as technology. Ronda’s association with Gran Turismo is also a reflection that our ancient city is a modern, vibrant place to live and very much part of the 21st century.”

“I feel so grateful to the city of Ronda for this honour,” Kaz commented. “It is very special to see my name on the street, and especially when I know that Orson Welles and Ernest Hemingway are around the corner – what incredible company. I know that I still have much work to do to be worthy of their status.”

Judging from the following photo, the typically-subdued Kazunori became rather bashful when receiving his honor. N'aww.

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