eSports in Japan - statistics & facts

Japan, despite being home to one of the largest gaming markets in the world, has a relatively small eSports market compared to leading eSports countries such as China, the United States, and South Korea. There are several reasons for the lagging development of the market in Japan, such as initial legal hurdles, the predominance of mobile gaming and console gaming, and genre preferences among consumers.

Formation of Japan eSports Union in 2018

The year 2018 is often said to be the year during which eSports took hold in Japan. During this year, the Japan e-Sports Association, the eSports Promotion Organization, and the Japan eSports Federation merged to form the Japan eSports Union (JeSU). The new governing body was established to promote eSports in Japan by improving coordination on eSports-related matters. One of the largest issues was a law that limited the prize money people could win at competitions. JeSU circumvented that law by issuing licenses to players, which makes it possible to treat prize money as a form of compensation for professionals. The domestic eSports market grew in the years that followed and reached a value of about 12.5 billion Japanese yen in 2022. As many tournaments were held as online events during the COVID-stricken years 2020 and 2021, it is expected that the market will grow more strongly from here on out.

Importance of audience for future growth

Since the largest part of revenue in the Japanese eSports market is generated via sponsorships, event management, and media rights, attracting a larger audience will be key to further market growth. The international eSports scene mainly focuses on PC gaming, which is not as popular in Japan as it is in other countries. Survey figures show that a majority of people are aware of eSports, but only a small share has actively participated in it or watched it so far. Nonetheless, the number of eSports viewers in Japan is expected to grow in the coming years and a culture surrounding eSports is slowly developing, such as high schools that offer courses on eSports or hotels that accommodate people who are interested in the activity. In September 2022, JeSU announced that it would establish an eSports award that covers various categories, such as players, teams, and titles. The award will be held annually from 2024 onward, which will likely contribute to the visibility of eSports among the general population.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Jun 26, 2024

Key insights

Revenue of the eSports market
12.5bn JPY
Largest segment of the eSports market
Sponsorship
Share of people who either participated in or watched eSports
17%
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