Japanese Universities Boost Game Creator Training as Market Grows

Japanese Universities Boost Game Creator Training as Market Grows

Japanese Universities Bet Big on Gaming

Institutions launch new programs to meet rising demand for talent in programming, design and production as competition intensifies

13 OCT 2025, 09:32 AM

Japanese universities are racing to train a new generation of video game creators as the nation's gaming market eclipses ¥2 trillion ($13 billion) and competition from overseas developers intensifies.

The domestic gaming market reached ¥2.59 trillion ($16.8 billion) in 2024, nearly double its value a decade earlier, according to industry researcher Famitsu Game Hakusho 2025. Globally, gaming revenue hit between ¥27 trillion and ¥31 trillion ($175 billion to $201 billion), with East Asia capturing between 40% and 45% of that total, according to research firms Niko Partners and Newzoo.

The surge has universities rushing to develop specialized programs in game design, visual effects and production management, positioning gaming as critical to Japan's creative economy. Industry executives say the evolution from solo developers to sprawling production teams has created acute demand for specialists in sound design, storytelling and intellectual-property strategy.

Tokyo University of the Arts Leads New Programs

In July, Tokyo University of the Arts announced plans to open a Games and Interactive Arts Department under its Graduate School of Film and New Media in April 2026. The master’s program, limited to 20 students, will treat games as a “new, integrated art form.” 

Courses will combine programming, visual design, and music with foundational art disciplines such as anatomy and motion. University president Katsuhiko Hibino said the goal is to promote Japanese games globally through creative research.

According to data, Osaka Electro-Communication University established its Digital Game Department in 2003, followed by Tokyo Polytechnic University in 2010. The International Professional University of Technology in Tokyo opened in 2020 with a game production course covering programming, IP management, and cultural studies. 

The course drew 365 applicants for 80 seats in fiscal 2025, even as most vocational schools struggled to meet enrollment targets.

A 2024 CESA survey found “game creator” is now the top career choice among elementary and junior high school boys. Analysts link this momentum to Japan’s New Cool Japan Strategy, which designates games and digital content as key industries. 

As universities expand programs, Japan aims to strengthen its global leadership in gaming, an industry now rivaling semiconductor exports in value.

Probaho Santra

Probaho Santra

Author

Probaho Santra is a content writer at Outlook India with a master’s degree in journalism. Outside work, he enjoys photography, exploring new tech trends, and staying connected with the esports world.

Published At: 13 OCT 2025, 09:32 AM