Game Changer – talk by Hisakazu Hirabayashi

With the recent release of Pokemon Go! the popularity of video gaming has never been stronger. From chess to Final Fantasy, games have been played for generations – no matter the form, the desire to master a game has always been universal. The trailblazer during the golden age of video gaming, Japan remains a key player on the international scene. The Japanese Prime Minister’s appearance as Super Mario at the Olympics earlier this year was testament to the ongoing legacy of Japanese gaming.

As part of November’s game series, the Japan Foundation is proud to invite expert Hisakazu Hirabayashi to discuss the characteristics of Japanese digital gaming – from immersive role-playing games to casual smartphone affairs. In his illustrative talk, he will also compare and contrast Japanese digital games with their Western counterparts, drawing upon Japan’s unique history of gaming.

After his presentation, Hirabayashi will be joined for a discussion by James Newman, Professor in the Digital Academy at Bath Spa University.

Hisakazu Hirabayashi
Hirabayashi is president of Interact Corp and a games analyst. He served with remarkable success as first editor in chief of a video game magazine and is widely recognised as an authority on game analysis. His works include Gemū no daigaku (The University of Gaming) and Gemū no jiji mondai (Current Issues in Gaming).