Overseas Exhibitors Overtake Japan for the First Time: "TGS Is Now a Global Game

Tokyo Game Show (TGS), Japan's representative gaming event, celebrated its 30th anniversary this year and began taking full-fledged steps as a global trade show.

At the opening ceremony of TGS 2026 held today (17th), Tetsuya Iguchi, President and CEO of Nikkei BP, announced that a total of 1,138 companies are participating this year, comprising 540 from Japan and 598 from overseas. The number of participating countries and regions also reached a record high of 53. Welcoming the largest TGS in history, President Iguchi emphasized that the show has grown not only quantitatively but also qualitatively.

Particularly noteworthy is that the number of participating overseas companies surpassed that of Japanese companies. President Iguchi emphasized, "For the first time in TGS history, the number of overseas participating companies has overtaken Japanese companies," stressing that TGS has taken a full-fledged step forward as a global game show beyond a local Japanese event.

He added, "I believe a key factor behind the prestige of the Wimbledon tennis tournament in the UK is that it is an event watched by the entire world," urging industry professionals, "I hope everyone in the gaming industry works together so that TGS can likewise become a game show that commands global attention."

Haruhiro Tsujimoto, Chairman of the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA), also emphasized a new leap forward for TGS. Expressing optimism that the gaming industry will continue to grow, he stated, "Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, TGS will take another step forward. Japan's gaming industry is one of the flagship content industries capable of competing globally, and the government also regards it as an important pillar of the content sector."

TGS 2026 is being held over five days for the first time this year. The event spans five days in total, combining two Business Days for industry professionals and three Public Days for the general public.

Chairman Tsujimoto concluded, "We will devote ourselves to the continuous growth of the gaming industry. TGS 2026 serves as a new starting line for the next 30 years. I hope TGS 2026 brings inspiration and joy to people around the world for the new advancement of the gaming industry, and with that, I conclude my remarks."

This article was originally written in Korean and translated with the help of AI. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom. [Read Original]

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Hongman "Nowl" Yoon

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