Japan launches a programme to help board game designers publish overseas

[Lantern98]

Japan has produced some global board game hits, and now it wants more of them. BoardGameWire reports that Arclight, the organiser of Game Market, is leading a government backed programme called J-TAN, the Japan Tabletop Advancement Network

Arclight is working with Pizzicato Design and Yellow Submarine. About 20 designers will be recruited for a free two year programme from February 2027 to March 2029, and applications close on 30 November

The programme includes up to four overseas trips, with provisional destinations of Spiel Essen, UK Games Expo, Gen Con and GAMA Expo. Funding comes from the Japan Arts Council's Creator Support Fund, and designers keep the rights to their games

Arclight warns that Japan's industry has an overseas publishing skills shortage, despite global hits such as Love Letter with over three million copies sold, and Ito, Machi Koro and Deep Sea Adventure. Those games have reached players all over the world

Japanese games are known for clever ideas in small boxes, so helping designers reach new markets could benefit players everywhere. Letting designers keep their rights is a fair and important detail. Trips to major conventions will give them valuable contacts and experience

What is your favourite Japanese board game? And should other countries support their game designers like this?

Despite global hits, Japan's board game industry faces overseas publishing skills shortage, Arclight warns - and leads government-backed drive to tackle it -boardgamewire.com

[Gareth84]

Designers keeping their rights is important. Too many programmes take ownership in exchange for support

This one is fair. Good to see. Creative ownership matters

[SašaJelenič]

Machi Koro was a gateway game for my whole family. Easy to learn, lots of luck, plenty of laughs. Still comes out at Christmas. Japan has given us some gems