SELECTED INDIE 80 / SOWN2026

Yohei YANASE

Since 1995, He has been engaged in game development as a game designer and scenario writer, contributing to titles such as Shadow of the Colossus and Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom. In 2013, they joined Unity Technologies Japan G.K. (now Unity Technologies Japan K.K.), where he have been actively working to bridge the gap between academia and the gaming industry. Their work has been recognized with several awards, including the WISS 2015 Interactive Presentation Award for A Shooting Game Where Anyone Can Perform Like a Pro and the Excellence Award in the Entertainment Division at the 20th Japan Media Arts Festival for Unlimited Corridor. In addition to their work in the industry, he serve as a collaborative researcher at the University of Tokyo's Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology and as a visiting professor at Osaka University of Arts.

Kenji ONO

Lecturer at the Department of Digital Entertainment, Faculty of Engineering, International Professional University of Technology in Tokyo.
Auditor of the Japan Game ScenarioWriters Association (JAGSA).
Major publications include "Serious Games" (Corona-sha, co-author).

Hidehiko KIMURA

Director of gamebiz, Inc. and Editor-in-Chief of gamebiz. After working for a securities media reporter and a game development company, he founded the web media "gamebiz" in 2010. He has been providing business information related to the entertainment industry, with a focus on the game industry.

Takeshi TAKAHASHI

TAKAHASHI has joined Koei Co., Ltd. in 1998. Engaged in "Shin Sangoku Musou 1-4." In 2008, transferred to Creatures Co., Ltd. and worked as a director of "Pokepark." In 2013, we acquired Oculus Rift DK1 with a kick starter and started the VR software development and VR software presentation OcuFes (now Japan VR Fest). In 2014, became independent as a VR specialist. In the same year, OcuFes became an NPO corporation. Since then, he has been actively working for the spread of VR in Japan and VR developers in the world.

Masafumi ONUKI

Active in the doujin game scene since around 2010, he worked as a programmer for a game company before going independent in 2016. In SOWN, he received the Audience Award in 2017 for "Ace of Seafood" and the Best Presentation Award in 2020 for "Fight Crab." He continues to develop new indie games.

Jh Shin

Shin specializes in serious games and serious gaming, approaching them from a sociocultural perspective, focusing on Japan and South Korea. She published "Questioning the Social Acceptance of Serious Games" (Fukumura Shuppan) in February 2024. Her work explores how games can make our world a better place. Shin also participates in projects at the Ritsumeikan Center for Game Studies (RCGS).

Koji MURAKAMI

Koji Murakami discovered indie games just before turned 40, and started making games while working as an architect. Major works include "Dark Blood," "Keri-Batto!," and "Game Gori Para Kenkyuroku." In 2020, he established the Asobuild.LLC and has been involved in the development of a wide range of entertainment, from analog games to metaverse. In 2022, I also launched the Fukuoka Indie Game Association, and am supporting indie game creators through exhibition events and study sessions.

Reona TAKAHASHI

Engaged in game development since 1997. Founded Grateek Inc. in Japan, then Xiamen Leona Software in China (2020). Specializes in game development, localization, publishing, and marketing for Japan-China markets. Jury member for Xiamen International Animation Festival, contributor to industry white papers, and mentor at iGi (indie Game incubator).

Kazunori KOMAGATA

In addition to planning products such as games and VTubers, he also cooperates with equipment used in exhibitions such as TOKYO GAME SHOW and BitSummit, and provides support for game contests in various regions.
His favorite game genre is action games, especially Metroidvania.
His latest hobby is collecting retro game consoles. He is especially fond of the NES, Super NES, and PC Engine.

LayerQ

A streamer who creates videos and live streams focused on indie games on YouTube.
After working at Kakehashi Games for five and a half years, he founded Indie Freaks, an organization he represents, and continues to support indie game fans.

Yan JIAO

With learning and research experience at Shandong University (Software), Chung-Ang University (Game and Animation Production), and Ritsumeikan University Graduate School (Play Studies), JIAO is currently a lecturer at a vocational school, practicing playfication of learning activities (learning activities generated through play).
He has devised some low-cost, low-tech learning game systems that allows for easy replacement of game elements according to learning content, and he's making full use of it in educational activities for subjects such as "Bookkeeping" and "Japanese Language" to enhance learners' motivation to learn.
He also paying attention to the trends in game culture and marketing in China.

Yuki KATAYAMA

Joined Kodansha Ltd. in 2018. Currently belong to the Creator's Lab.
After working as an editor for "FRIDAY" and "Monthly Shonen Magazine," he became the Chief of the Game Creator's Lab (GCL).
He checks on the production status of indie games supported by the GCL and manages the progress of the sales schedule.

Mirei TAKAHASHI

Representative of CuePoint LLC. Editor, researcher. Editor-in-chief of "Morikatoron AI Lab," a web media outlet specializing in the latest research and news on entertainment and AI. Member of the Ethics Committee of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence. Conducts interviews on AI development and implementation cases within the domestic and international entertainment industry, including games, as well as various challenges accompanying the social implementation of new technologies. Her written works include "RE-END: Technology and Society in the Eyes of the Dead." Has hosted a game studies reading group since 2017.

Makoto GOTO

After working as an engineer for over 30 years at various game companies, including Square Co., Ltd. (now Square Enix Co., Ltd.), he developed a deep interest in "Serious Games"—digital games designed to solve societal issues—inspired by his experience caring for his grandmother during his student years.
In January 2018, he established Game for It, Inc. a company primarily focused on serious game development and assumed the role of President and Representative Director. Currently, while focusing on contract development, he is involved in creating a wide range of games, including those for dementia prevention, healthcare, and countermeasures for gambling addiction.