The World Comes Together at TGS: What Makes Japanese Games So Special? We Asked Foreign Visitors

The Tokyo Game Show (TGS) opened on the 17th, with a record 1,138 companies exhibiting this year. Overseas exhibitors numbered 598, surpassing the 540 domestic exhibitors, while the number of exhibiting regions also expanded to 53. English, Chinese and other languages could be heard alongside Japanese at the venue, underscoring the accelerating globalization of games.

Comments gathered at the venue suggested that Japanese games contain elements that resonate beyond language barriers. Liu Jiaming (劉家銘), who works for a Taiwanese game company, said, “When I was a child, I played Japanese games even though I didn’t understand Japanese,” adding that he had experienced their cultural influence firsthand.

At the same time, some visitors said the growing number of AAA titles highlighted differences in financial resources and quality, while others pointed to the unique strengths created by Japan’s long history. Attention is also turning to works that draw on traditional Japanese elements, including remakes and pixel-art styles.

There were also calls to support Japanese companies’ overseas expansion. Japanese games are highly regarded for elements such as their artwork, world-building and stories. The discussion also touched on the fact that more than 90% of CAPCOM’s sales come from overseas and the potential for Japanese intellectual property to create business opportunities in global markets, reflecting a growing focus on the worldwide market.

Against this backdrop, Japan’s game industry is strengthening its position as an influence on creators around the world while continuing to compete globally. Ways exist to convey the appeal of Japanese games even to people who do not understand Japanese, potentially leading to the emergence of more fans and creators across national borders.