Japan has long been recognized as a powerhouse nation in the video game industry, boasting major companies such as Nintendo and Sony. The Japanese eSports market has shown significant growth potential in recent years, expanding since 2018. According to reports, 7.43 million people watched eSports in Japan in 2021, and this is expected to increase to over 12 million users by 2025. The Japanese eSports market is predicted to exceed 18 billion yen by 2025. In this article, we will examine the factors that contributed to the rise of eSports in Japan and explore some popular games that players enjoy.
The Rise of eSports in Japan
COVID-19 had a major impact on the eSports industry in Japan, resulting in the cancellation or modification of several in-person gaming competitions in 2020, leading to decreased ticket sales and sponsorships. However, the pandemic also spurred growth in the digital tournament sector, as more online contests and events increased streaming and viewing hours and enhanced broadcast quality.
eSports has also gained recognition in academia, with universities and colleges including it in club activities and academic courses. Moreover, senior citizen homes have adopted various eSports titles to maintain the health of their residents and combat dementia.
Due to the rising demand for eSports, corporations from various industries, including telecommunications firms such as NTT DOCOMO and au, food and beverage producers Coca-Cola and Nissin Food, and automakers Subaru and Toyota Motor Corporation, have supported the eSports industry. They have invested in creating domestic eSports league trademarks, supporting athletes and teams, and establishing eSports-specific venues, hotels, training centers, and technical education.
Top eSports in Japan
RAGE ShadowVerse
RAGE ShadowVerse is one of the major eSports tournaments in Japan that takes place four times a year. Thousands of players compete, but only eight make it to the Grand Finals. The winner and runner-up of the Grand Finals then compete for the top spot in the World Grand Prix, making it a highly prestigious event in the eSports community.
Fortnite
Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, is a Battle Royale game where 100 players fight to be the last person standing on a massive map. The game requires players to find equipment to defend themselves against other players while attempting to stay alive until the end. The playable area gradually decreases until there is only one survivor, providing the game with its exciting gameplay. With its popularity as an eSports game, Fortnite has created some of the youngest and wealthiest gamers in the world. If you think you have what it takes to be a top Fortnite player, you can play online games at Japanbets.com and choose your favorite eSports league to win big.
HearthStone
Hearthstone is an online collectible card game that quickly gained professional players after its launch in March 2014. The game can be played as an eSports game, with high-level competitions and prize pools of up to $1 million, including Blizzard’s official World Championship. Livestreamers can also earn money by broadcasting the game on Twitch.
Hearthstone is available on various devices, including Android and iOS smartphones, tablets, Windows, and Mac Desktops, making it easy to challenge friends to casual duels anywhere. When Hearthstone was released in Japan in 2015, it attracted many Japanese players already engaged in the game’s other international versions. The fully localized Japanese version of Hearthstone later welcomed players from Korea and Taiwan in Asia.
The Hokkaido Tournament – A Major eSports Event
As eSports continues to increase in popularity in Japan, more and more people are tuning in to digital competitions and matches, leading to the expansion of the market. In addition, people are betting on eSports online at Japanbets.com One major event that has helped to foster the growth of professional teams is the Hokkaido eSports Festival, organized by the Hokkaido eSports Association. The second annual event was held recently, and major teams continue to emerge from the festival.
One such team is Northeption, which signed 22-year-old Sota Muratsubaki, a second-year student at Hokkaido High-Technology College in Eniwa, to their professional eSports team in 2021. Since then, Muratsubaki has participated in the highest pro league in the country, and his sponsor, NTT Docomo Inc., pays him 3.5 million yen annually.
Northeption was founded in 2019 by Kazuhiro Owa, the director of Sapporo Bike Ashiba Co., a scaffolding business. The team has since secured business agreements with 15 parties for four eSports game franchises, including athletes and video broadcasters, and has five team supervisors. Funding for the team comes from selling original products, sponsorships, competition winnings, and selling PCs created in association with gaming PC manufacturers.
Final Thoughts
Japan’s growth in the eSports industry is expected to drive an increase in viewership as the country establishes itself in the global marketplace. As a major player in the video game industry, Japan’s reputation has helped grow its eSports market, with projections indicating an increase in viewership and market size by 2025. Although the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the cancellation of in-person gaming events, it has also paved the way for growth in the digital tournament sector. With Japan’s eSports industry showing no signs of slowing down, the future looks promising for the industry.
