The Japan Game Awards are an awards ceremony held by the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) to recognize outstanding video games released in Japan throughout the previous year. The ceremony is held in Japan, typically during the month of September, to coincide with the Tokyo Game Show convention.
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.
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 occasions. 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.From the column "Masahiro Sakurai's Thoughts on Games" VOL. 350, published in the October 14, 2010 issue of Weekly Famitsu, page 230.
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". The first recipient of this award was Shigeru Miyamoto.
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.
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. 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.
History
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. 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: Best Work (作品賞, Sakuhin-shō) Sakura Wars (Sega Enterprises; Sega Saturn) Department-specific awards (部門別賞, Bumon-betsu-shō) Best Direction (監督賞, Kantoku-shō) Sakura Wars (Sega Enterprises; Sega Saturn) Programming (プログラミング, Puroguramingu) NiGHTS into Dreams (Sega Enterprises; Sega Saturn) Graphics (グラフィック, Gurafikku) NiGHTS into Dreams (Sega Enterprises; Sega Saturn) Scenario (シナリオ, Shinario) Resident Evil (Capcom; PlayStation) Sound (サウンド, Saundo) PaRappa the Rapper (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Main Characters (メインキャラクター, Meinkyarakutā) Sakura Wars (Sega Enterprises; Sega Saturn) Sub-Characters (サブキャラクター, Sabukyarakutā) Sakura Wars (Sega Enterprises; Sega Saturn) Special Award (特別賞, Tokubetsu-shō) New Concept (ニューコンセプト, Nyūkonseputo) PaRappa the Rapper (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Standard (スタンダード, Sutandādo) Dragon Quest III (Super Nintendo remake) (Enix; Super Nintendo) Game Genre Awards (ゲームジャンル別賞, Gēmujanru-betsu-shō) Action (アクション, Akushon) Super Mario 64 (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Sports (スポーツ, Supōtsu) DecAthlete (Sega Enterprises; Sega Saturn) Fighting (格闘, Kakutō) Tekken 2 (Namco; PlayStation) RPG Dragon Quest III (Super Nintendo remake) (Enix; Super Nintendo) Simulation (シミュレーション, Shimyurēshon) Derby Stallion '96 (ASCII Corporation; Super Nintendo) Puzzle (パズル, Pazuru) Puyo Puyo 2 Definitive Edition (Compile; PlayStation) Adventure (アドベンチャー, Adobenchā) Resident Evil (Capcom; PlayStation) Driving / Racing (ドライビング・レース, Doraibingu·rēsu) Mario Kart 64 (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Shooting (シューティング, Shūtingu) Virtua Cop 2 (Sega Enterprises; Sega Saturn) Table (テーブル, Tēburu) Momotaru Densetsu HAPPY (Hudson; Super Nintendo) Education (エデュケーション, Ede~yukēshon) Lifescape: A 4 Billion Year Journey (Media Quest; PlayStation) Variety (バラエティ, Baraeti) Namco Museum Series (Namco; PlayStation)
CESA Awards '97 (1998) Held on April 3, 1998, at Velfarre. Games eligible were those released during the previous calendar year, between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 1997. The following categories were awarded:
Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) Final Fantasy VII (Square; PlayStation) Award for Excellence (優秀賞, Yūshū-shō) I.Q.: Intelligent Qube (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Gran Turismo (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) GRANDIA (Game Arts; Sega Saturn) Densha de Go! (Taito; PlayStation) Yoshi's Story (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Category Awards (部門賞, Bumon-shō) Programming (プログラミング, Puroguramingu) Gran Turismo (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Scenario (シナリオ, Shinario) Final Fantasy VII (Square; PlayStation) Graphics (グラフィック, Gurafikku) Gran Turismo (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Sound (サウンド, Saundo) Final Fantasy VII (Square; PlayStation) Characters (キャラクター, Kyarakutā) Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (Namco; PlayStation) Special Jury Award (審査員特別賞, Shinsa-in tokubetsu-shō) Ultima Online (Electronic Arts, Square; Windows) Derby Stallion (ASCII Corporation; PlayStation) Monster Rancher (Tecmo; PlayStation)
The 3rd CESA Awards (1999) 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. The following categories were awarded: Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Award for Excellence (優秀賞, Yūshū-shō) R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (Namco; PlayStation) Resident Evil 2 (Capcom; PlayStation) Beatmania (Konami; PlayStation) Hey You, Pikachu! (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Metal Gear Solid (Konami; PlayStation) Category Awards (部門賞, Bumon-shō) Scenario (シナリオ, Shinario) Machi (Chunsoft; Sega Saturn) Programming (プログラミング, Puroguramingu) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Graphics (グラフィック, Gurafikku) R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (Namco; PlayStation) Characters (キャラクター, Kyarakutā) Hey You, Pikachu! (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Sound (サウンド, Saundo) Beatmania (Konami; PlayStation) Special Jury Award (審査員特別賞, Shinsa-in tokubetsu-shō) Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Sonic Adventure (Sega Enterprises; Dreamcast) Dragon Warrior Monsters (Enix; Game Boy)
The 4th Japan Game Awards (2000) Held on March 30, 2000, at the Tokyo International Forum in Yurakucho, Tokyo. Games eligible were those released during the previous calendar year, between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 1999. The following categories were awarded: Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) Doko Demo Issyo (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Award for Excellence (優秀賞, Yūshū-shō) Doko Demo Issyo (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Seaman (Sega Enterprises/Vivarium; Dreamcast) Dance Dance Revolution (Konami; PlayStation) Final Fantasy VIII (Square; PlayStation) Pokémon Gold and Silver (Nintendo; Game Boy) Category Awards (部門賞, Bumon-shō) Game Design (ゲームデザイン, Gēmudezain) Doko Demo Issyo (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Programming (プログラミング, Puroguramingu) Soul Calibur (Namco; Dreamcast) Graphics (グラフィック, Gurafikku) Legend of Mana (Square; PlayStation) Movie (ムービー, Mūbī) Final Fantasy VIII (Square; PlayStation) Character (キャラクター, Kyarakutā) "Toro" from Doko Demo Issyo (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Scenario (シナリオ, Shinario) Valkyrie Profile (Enix; PlayStation) Sound (サウンド, Saundo) Dance Dance Revolution (Konami; PlayStation) New Wave Award (ニューウェイブ賞, Nyūu~eibu-shō) Best New Wave Award (最優秀ニューウェイブ賞, Saiyūshū nyūu~eibu-shō) Seaman (Sega Enterprises/Vivarium; Dreamcast) Doko Demo Issyo (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) Dance Dance Revolution (Konami; PlayStation) Special Award (特別賞, Tokubetsu-shō) Overseas Work (海外作品, Kaigai sakuhin) Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (Microsoft; Windows) Best Gamer (ベストゲーマー, Besutogēmā) Hikaru Ijūin Reika Nakajima
The 5th Japan Game Awards (2001) Held on March 29, 2001, at the Tokyo International Forum in Yurakucho, Tokyo. 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: Grand Prize (大賞, Taishō) Phantasy Star Online (Sega; Dreamcast) Award for Excellence (優秀賞, Yūshū-shō) Gunparade March (Sony Computer Entertainment; PlayStation) The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Dragon Quest VII (Enix; PlayStation) Final Fantasy IX (Square; PlayStation) Phantasy Star Online (Sega; Dreamcast) Category Awards (部門賞, Bumon-shō) Outstanding Game Design Award (ゲームデザイン賞, Gēmudezain-shō) Phantasy Star Online (Sega; Dreamcast) Other nominees: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Dragon Quest VII (Enix; PlayStation) Shiren the Wanderer 2: Shiren's Castle and the Oni Invasion (Nintendo; Nintendo 64) Mr. Driller (Namco; PlayStation, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color) Programming Award (プログラミング賞, Puroguramingu-shō) Phantasy Star Online (Sega; Dreamcast) Other nominees: