Japan Toy and Game Software Journal articles

Recent articles from Japan Toy and Game Software Journal

Takara, others target older middle-aged with toy-and-treat products.(Japan's 'toy-and-treat' market reached around 59 billion yen in 2002)(Brief Article)
August 25, 2003... According to the Japan Toy Association, the market for toy-and-treat products hit about 59 billion yen in 2002, up 9.4% from 2001. Seeking to capitalize on this growing market, toymakers are reinforcing their toy-and-treat lineups with items to attract women and middle-aged consumers. ...

Secom helps owners locate lost pets.(Secom is introducing a service in Japan to track missing dogs)(Brief Article)
August 25, 2003... Secom, Japan's largest home and office security provider, aims to capture some of the huge market for pet accessories in Japan. The company is offering a service that tracks missing dogs. The service, an extension of a service already available to track young children, the elderly and missing...

Broccoli targets wider audience for Di Gi Charat.(with plans to strengthen its operatoins in the U.S.)(Brief Article)
August 25, 2003... Broccoli, a maker and marketer of anime-related goods, plans to strengthen its character business in the United States. The company will begin marketing an English version of its mainstay Di Gi Charat manga in October and open more directly operated stores for related goods to buoy...

Softbank Group opens portal to online games.(BBServe opens the BBGames Internet portal site)(Brief Article)
August 25, 2003... In July, BBServe, under the Softbank umbrella, opened BBGames, an Internet portal site, that will eventually function as a one-stop shop for online games. Initially, about 30 online games are available for play on personal computers, but the selection will grow to about 200 by April 2004...

Yahoo! Japan pursues own anime distribution.(Brief Article)
August 25, 2003... Yahoo! Japan is currently testing a system to distribute an original anime series online for free in partnership with Contents Japan, which will plan the series, and Sunrise, which will work with its partners to produce the series. The series, called Trip Trek, is in the horror genre and...