Japan's Esports Industry: Its Journey So Far, Present Challenges, and the Road Ahead | ERNC26

Opening ceremony of the Esports Research Network Conference 2026, held at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, from 15 to 17 September 2026. Theme: Bridging Gaming Heritage and Esports Futures: Transformations, Traditions, and Tomorrow. This video contains two parts. KEYNOTE "Japan's Esports Industry: Its Journey So Far, Present Challenges, and the Road Ahead" Mr Hideki Okamura, Special Advisor to SEGA, to the Japan esports Union (JeSU) and to GAKU Mr Hideki Okamura traces how esports in Japan reached its present position, what stands in its way today, and where the industry goes from here. Few people have followed that development from closer in. The talk moves from the early years, through the structures the sector built as it professionalised, to the questions it now has to answer. ADDRESS Mr Tatsuo Igarashi, Mayor of Tsukuba City Mayor Igarashi welcomed the conference to Tsukuba on behalf of the city. ERNC26 was the first edition of the conference to be held in Japan, and holding it in a city built around research meant a good deal to the network. ABOUT ERNC26 The Esports Research Network is an international network of researchers working on esports across disciplines. ERNC26 was hosted by the University of Tsukuba from 15 to 17 September 2026 and brought together over 160 participants from 30 countries and regions, for three keynotes, four panel discussions and sixty-four research presentations. Hosted by: University of Tsukuba Funded by: KDDI Foundation, Tsukuba Tourism and Convention Association Co-organised by: GAKU Pte Ltd Supported by: Japan esports Union (JeSU), SEGA, KONAMI Esports Academy, Secretlab, Elgato, Pocketalk, Mouse Computer, Agni Flare, World Esports, Nagoya OJA, Ibaraki Prefectural Government, Ibaraki Esports Industry Creation Project Promotion Council Accredited by: Tsukuba City, The Science and Technology Foundation of Japan Media Partner: The Japan Times Our sincere thanks to Mr Hideki Okamura and to Mayor Tatsuo Igarashi, and to everyone who supported the conference. Website: https://esportsresearch.net Conference: https://www.esportsresearch.net/confe... #ERNC26 #EsportsResearch #Esports