First announced in 1996 as the "CESA Awards", the first edition of the event was held on April 4, 1997. Starting from the fourth edition, held in 2000, the name was changed to "Japan Game Awards", only to be retitled "CESA GAME AWARDS" for its sixth edition in 2002, finally settling on its current title of "Japan Game Awards" starting from the tenth edition, held in 2006.
While it represents the Japanese video game industry, the awards are not limited to Japanese video games, but may also include video games developed by international teams or individuals.[1][2]
Award Divisions
Games of the Year
The "Games of the Year Division" awards games that have been released during the qualifying period for game consoles, PC or mobile devices. Selection of winning titles is performed by a selection committee, with public voting and sales figures also taken into account. Multiple categories are awarded, with the highest distinction being the "Grand Prize", equivalent to the "Game of the Year" award in other ceremonies and trade publications. While in most categories only one title is awarded, the "Award for Excellence" category includes multiple winners, and the "Grand Prize" has gone to more than one title on multiple occassions. In the 2010 edition, a "Game Designers Award" was introduced, proposed by renowned game developer Masahiro Sakurai after reflecting on the fact that other categories favored games with large sales numbers rather than reflecting the perspective of game creators.[3]
Future Division
This category was established at the 2001 edition of the event. It awards games that have yet to be released, and that are announced or exhibited during the Tokyo Game Show held during the eligible period, based on a public vote held by attendees, in virtue of the games' promise and the voters' anticipation for their release. Games that are not exhibited at Tokyo Game Show are not eligible for selection.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award (METI Award)
Established at the 2008 edition of the Japan Game Awards, this award is given to both video games and people who significantly contribute to the development of the Japanese video game industry "through creation of excellent products" or those who "expanded the scope of the videogame industry using a new expression or technology".[4] The first recipient of this award was Shigeru Miyamoto.[5]
Discontinued divisions
The following divisions were introduced throughout the history of the Japan Game Awards, but are no longer awarded.
Amateur Division
Established in the 2007 edition by merging the pre-existing "CESA Student Game Awards" and "Game Awards Indies", this division awarded original works that had not been commercially marketed regardless of whether the entrant is a company, a group of people or a single individual. Participants must reside in Japan to be eligible. This division consisted of three categories, awarded by a selection committee: "Grand Award" (for one outstanding title), "Awards for Excellence" (for multiple titles), and "Honorable Mentions". Starting with the 2024 edition, this category is no longer awarded at the Japan Game Awards, and was instead transferred to the "Kamigame Creator Evolution" contest sponsored by NHK Enterprises, along with the "U18 Division" contest.[6][7]
U18 Division
This division, established in the 2018 edition, consisted on a contest for game creators under the age of 18. According to the official website of the division, its aim was "discovering the next generation of game creators". Participants could be individuals or teams.[8] Starting with the 2024 edition, this category is no longer awarded at the Japan Game Awards, and was instead transferred to the "Kamigame Creator Evolution" contest sponsored by NHK Enterprises, along with the "Amateur Division" awards.[6][7]
History
Japan Game Awards 2007 booth, Tokyo Game Show
The ceremony was first carried out under the name "CESA Awards" (CESA大賞, CESA taishō) in 1996, and was renamed to "Japan Game Awards" (日本ゲーム大賞, Nihon gēmu taishō) in 1999 for its fourth edition.[9] Starting from the 2003 edition, games considered for awards are usually those released during the previous Japanese fiscal year, between April 1 of the previous year and March 31 of the current year, although earlier editions of the award encompassed the previous calendar year.
CESA Awards '96 (1997)
Held on April 4, 1997. Games eligible were those released during the previous calendar year, between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1996. The following categories were awarded:[10]
Held on April 3, 1998 at Velfarre.[11] Games eligible were those released during the previous calendar year, between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1997. The following categories were awarded:[12]
Held on April 2, 1999 at Velfarre. Games eligible were those released during the previous calendar year, between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 1998. A total of 130,186 votes were received for different categories.[13] The following categories were awarded:[14]
Held on March 30, 2000 at the Tokyo International Forum in Yurakucho, Tokyo.[15] Games eligible were those released during the previous calendar year, between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 1999. The following categories were awarded:[16]
Held on March 29, 2001 at the Tokyo International Forum in Yurakucho, Tokyo.[17] Games eligible were those released during the previous calendar year, between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2000. Unlike previous years, nominees were announced as wel as the winners. The following categories were awarded:[18]
Best Sales Award (ベストセールス賞, Besutosērusu-shō) –Dragon Quest VII (Enix; PlayStation)
Popular Award (大衆賞, Taishū-shō) –Dragon Quest VII (Enix; PlayStation)
The 6th CESA Game Awards (2002)
Held on October 28, 2002 at the Hotel Okura Tokyo.[19] Games eligible were those released between January 1, 2001 and March 31, 2002. The following categories were awarded:[20]
Game Awards 2001 - 2002
Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) –Final Fantasy X (Square; PlayStation 2)
Held on October 30, 2003 at the ANA Hotel Tokyo in Minato, Tokyo.[21] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2003 (between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2003). The following categories were awarded:[22]
Held on October 27, 2004 at the ANA Hotel Tokyo in Minato, Tokyo.[23] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2004 (between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004). The following categories were awarded:[24]
Game Awards 2003 - 2004
Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) –Monster Hunter (Capcom; PlayStation 2)
Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) –Burger Maker (Dai Ikushima; PC)
Award for Excellence (優秀賞, Yūshū-shō) –MANNEKENPIS (Masatsugu Konuma; PC)
The 9th CESA Game Awards (2005)
Held on October 27, 2005 at Meguro Gajoen in Meguro, Tokyo.[25] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2005 (between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2005). The following categories were awarded:[26]
Game Awards 2004 - 2005
Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) –Dragon Quest VIII (Square Enix; PlayStation 2)
Award for Excellence (優秀賞, Yūshū-shō)
Gran Turismo 4 (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation 2)
Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) –AMIDA The Soldier on The Bridge (Yoshihiro Daimon, Technical Computer Club, Toyama Prefectural University; PC)
Award for Excellence (優秀賞, Yūshū-shō) –Koi no Kaisatsu Kuchi (Konami School TEMP Junya Tanaka / Chiaki Nakayama;Mobile)
Japan Game Awards 2006
A ceremony for the "Games of the Year" and "Indies" divisions was held on September 22, 2006 at the Tokyo Game Show event stage. The "Future" division awards were handed out on a separate ceremony on September 24, 2006.[27] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2006 (between April 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006). The following categories were awarded:[28][29]
Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) –5 Seconds of Kappa (Kyushu University Graduate School of Information Science and Electrical Engineering/Jolly9; Mobile)
Award for Excellence (優秀賞, Yūshū-shō)
Moai's Nest (SKT; PC)
Blowwind (Digital Entertainment Academy/Team P; GameCube)
Cell_Sparrow (Gen Muto; PC)
Japan Game Awards 2007
The main ceremony was held on September 20, 2007 at the Tokyo Game Show event stage. The "Games of the Year Division" awards were announced during that ceremony, while the ceremonies for the "Amateur Division" and "Future Division" awards were held on September 21 and September 23, 2007 respectively.[30] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2007 (between April 1, 2006 and March 31, 2007). The following categories were awarded:
Yanemadetonda (Dr. Garugari, Digital Entertainment Academy; PC)
Japan Game Awards 2008
The awards for the "Games of the Year Division" were announced on October 9, 2008 at the Tokyo Game Show event stage. On that same day, the first-ever edition of the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award" was handed out. The "Amateur Division" winners were announced on October 11, 2008, and the "Future Division" ceremony was held on October 12, 2008.[34] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2008 (between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008). This edition saw the introduction of the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award", with Shigeru Miyamoto as its inaugural recipient.[5] The following categories were awarded:
The main ceremony was held on September 24, 2009 at the Tokyo Game Show event stage, including the handing out of the "Games of the Year Division" awards as well as the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award". The "Amateur Division" winners were announced on September 26, 2009, and the "Future Division" awards ceremony was held on September 27, 2009.[38] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2009 (between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009). The following categories were awarded:
The "Games of the Year Division" awards and the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award" were handed out during a ceremony on September 16, 2010 at the Tokyo Game Show event stage. Separate ceremonies were held on September 18 and 19, 2010, in which the "Amateur Division" and "Future Division" awards, respectively, were announced.[43] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2010 (between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010). The following categories were awarded:
Yuji Horii, video game designer, writer and director, creator of the Dragon Quest series.
Japan Game Awards 2011
The "Games of the Year Division" awards and the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award" were handed out on September 15, 2011 at the Tokyo Game Show event stage. Separate ceremonies were held on September 17 and 18, 2011, for the "Amateur Division" and "Future Division" awards respectively.[48] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2011 (between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011). The following categories were awarded:
Tsunekazu Ishihara, video game designer, director and producer, president and CEO of The Pokémon Company.
Japan Game Awards 2012
The main ceremony, in which the "Games of the Year Division" and "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" awards were announced, was held on September 20, 2012 on the Tokyo Game Show event stage, with additional awards on September 22 and 23, 2012.[53] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2012 (between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012). The following categories were awarded:
The main ceremony, in which the "Games of the Year Division" and "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" awards were announced, was held on September 19, 2013 on the Tokyo Game Show event stage, with additional awards on September 21 and 22, 2013.[58] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2013 (between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013). The following categories were awarded:
The main ceremony, in which the "Games of the Year Division" and "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" awards were announced, was held on September 18, 2014 on the Tokyo Game Show event stage, with additional awards on September 20 and 21, 2014.[63] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2014 (between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014). The following categories were awarded:
The main ceremony, in which the "Games of the Year Division" and "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" awards were announced, was held on September 17, 2015 on the Tokyo Game Show event stage, with additional awards on September 19 and 20, 2015.[68] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2015 (between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015). The following categories were awarded:
Best Sales Award (ベストセールス賞, Besutosērusu-shō) –Yo-kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls (Level-5; Nintendo 3DS)
Global Award (グローバル賞, Gurōbaru-shō)
Japanese Works (日本作品, Nihon sakuhin) –Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U (Nintendo; Nintendo 3DS, Wii U)
Overseas Works (海外作品, Kaigai sakuhin) –Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (Activision / Sledgehammer Games; PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC)
The main ceremony, in which the "Games of the Year Division" awards and the "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award" were handed out, took place on September 15, 2016 on the Tokyo Game Show event stage, with additional ceremonies on September 17, 2016 for the "Amateur Division" awards and September 18, 2016 for the "Future Division" awards.[73] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2016 (between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016). The following categories were awarded:
The Dragon Quest 30th Anniversary Team, represented by Yuji Horii, Dragon Quest series creator, and Ryutaro Ichimura, "Dragon Quest 30th Anniversary Project General Producer" at Square Enix.
Japan Game Awards 2017
The main ceremony was held on September 21, 2017, in which the "Games of the Year" and "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" awards were announced at the Tokyo Game Show venue. On September 23, 2017 the "Amateur Division" awards were handed out, and on September 24, 2017 the "Future Division" awards were announced.[78] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2017 (between April 1, 2016 and March 31, 2017). The following categories were awarded:
The main ceremony was held on September 20, 2018 at the Tokyo Game Show venue, in which the "Games of the Year" and "Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry" awards were announced. On September 22, 2018 the "Amateur Division" awards were handed out, and on September 23, 2018 the "Future Division" awards were announced.[83] Games eligible were those released in the Japanese fiscal year 2018 (between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018). A new "U18 Division" was introduced in this edition, intended to award game creators under the age of 18. The following categories were awarded:
The 2019 edition was held on September 12, 14 and 15, 2019, during that year's Tokyo Game Show.[89] Games eligible were those released during the Japanese fiscal year 2019 (between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019). The following winners were announced:
↑ "日本ゲーム大賞 U18部門". 日本ゲーム大賞 U18部門 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-23.
↑ ""4th Japan Game Awards" Award Ceremony Report". CESA (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-09-23. さて、名称を「CESA大賞」から「日本ゲーム大賞」に名称変更して初めての授与式。[This was the first award ceremony since the name was changed from the "CESA Awards" to the "Japan Game Awards."]{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
