From September 26 to 29, Tokyo Game Show 2024 (TGS) was held at the Makuhari Messe. This year’s edition was the largest in the event’s history. A total of 979 exhibiting companies, including 529 from overseas, showcased the latest video games and gaming technology across 3,252 booths that covered every hall of the Makuhari Messe. Throughout the 4-day event, 274,739 visitors attended, comprising video game industry professionals aiming to conduct business negotiations with developers, as well as game enthusiasts from the general public looking to be the first to playtest unreleased titles. Japan’s leading MICE news outlet, POP Inc., covered the event.

The excitement in the air was contagious throughout the entirety of Tokyo Game Show 2024. From some of the largest game production companies in the world like Sega and Capcom, to individual indie developers, the passion for video games was palpable. In addition, featured games being available on console, PC, smartphone, and even AR and VR offered options for every type of gamer.

Sega
Sega unveiled new entries in their beloved franchises.
Sonic X Shadow Generations will contain two all-new adventures, one with each Sonic the Hedgehog and Shadow the Hedgehog as the protagonist and set in each character’s respective universe. The TGS 2024 playable demo’s Sonic version highlighted classic fast-paced 2D platforming that was what originally endeared players to the franchise. Shadow’s campaign, on the other hand, wowed attendees with massive action-packed boss battles.

Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii stars fan-favorite Goro Majima battling gangs of pirates in scenic Hawaii, a location recently featured in Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth. However, developers insist that the game is not a spin-off, as many players feared, but actually a continuation of the story from the previous title. The Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii display at TGS showcased an impressive pirate ship set being sailed by a life-size Majima statue.

LEVEL-5
LEVEL-5 held a demanding presence again this year with its debut demo of the newest entry in the Professor Layton adventure puzzle game series.
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam is the eighth entry in the iconic franchise, after the series was originally considered to be completed when the sixth game was released in 2013. In the New World of Steam, Professor Layton himself returns as the protagonist, following games previously featuring both his son and daughter. The TGS demo introduces Steam Bison, USA, a town haunted by a gunslinger’s ghost, to which Professor Layton is invited by his apprentice, Luke Triton, to visit a famous inventor and solve some puzzles along the way.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time was originally planned to go on sale in October 2024, but the release has recently been postponed to April 2025. This change occurred due to the inclusion of “open world” game elements. The TGS 2024 demo (which contained entirely new content not featured in the TGS 2023 demo) allowed attendees to explore the continent of Ginormosia, which is “the largest open world in the series.” In Ginormosia, players can battle enemies and collect resources while exploring a sprawling landscape. Characters can switch manually between paladin and wizard combat “Lifes,” and passive “Lifes” like woodcutter and miner were automatically switched to as needed, which is a huge quality-of-life improvement over the previous requirement of constant visits to the Guild Master.

Japan Electronics College
Game development students from multiple universities were eager to show off their skills to potential buyers and hirers, without fear of being overshadowed by larger companies.
Fishing Within the Stars was developed by three undergraduate students from Japan Electronics College. The game features a stranded astronaut who fishes for space fish in order to use their power to travel home. The fishing mechanics are partially motion-controlled, which makes for a reasonable challenge that feels rewarding to overcome.

Devolver Digital
Japan was not the only country making waves at the Tokyo Game Show. American game developer Devolver Digital showcased Skate Story, a fresh take on the skateboarding video game genre. Skate Story features a demon skateboarder that gradually learns skateboarding tricks in order to improve its lot in afterlife. Compared to other established games in the genre, Skate Story is more notably story-based and atmospheric, which will likely make it an easier entry point for beginner players.

Tokyo Game Show 2025 will be held from September 25 to 28 in-person at the Makuhari Messe alongside simultaneous online content.

On September 4, the Tokyo Gift Show Autumn 2024 edition kicked off at the Tokyo Big Sight. Held twice a year and proudly displaying its claim as the “largest trade show in Japan,” TGS Autumn 2024 covers all 8 of the Big Sight’s East Halls, as well as the entire first floor of the West Hall. The opening day found tens of thousands of visitors eager discovering the latest products being showcased by 2,842 exhibiting companies, including 898 international brands from 16 countries, covering the hottest trends in gifts, furniture, and everyday fashion. Leading Japanese MICE news outlet POP Inc. was on the scene.

Tokyo Gift Show comprises of a variety of themed areas, the most prominent of which are the “Young Fashion & Kids Stuff Fair,” the “Home Furnishings, Lighting & Decorative Goods Fair,” the “Daily Necessities & Sundry Goods Fair,” and the “Personal Accessories & Leather Goods Fair.” Concurrently held exhibitions are LIFE x DESIGN, LIVING & DESIGN, and the Gourmet Show.

Standing out amongst other stationery item exhibitors, Taisei Plas Co., Ltd. is showcasing its scented stamps for use in “oshikatsu,” active support of one’s favorite character, actor, or idol, a.k.a. one’s “oshi.” The stamps are offered in two sizes, a larger stamp that is stored in the base of an acrylic stand featuring a popular character, as well as a smaller stamp that can be obtained at random from a capsule toy machine. Sales Promotion Department Director Yurika Matsubara elaborated that each fragrance is meticulously designed based on the characters’ personalities and traits.
Official website: https://taiseiplas-stamp.com/

EdGift Inc., a highly acclaimed children’s toy maker, is using the Tokyo Gift Show to unveil its new line “TEGUMII” building blocks. TEGUMII are small, flat plastic blocks that notch together and have unlimited creative building potential from only 6 types of pieces. CEO Hikaru Koshikawa explained that TEGUMII are lighter, safer, and easier to put together than many other building blocks on the market. EdGift’s new product line, “BIG TEGUMII,” consists of soft foam TEGUMII that are 5 times the size of the original and sturdy enough to hold kitchenware. In addition, BIG TEGUMII are available for children of all ages, whereas regular TEGUMII are recommend for ages 4 and up.
Official website: https://tegumii.com/

On the other end of the toy spectrum sits JEKCA, the “Building Blocks for Kidults.” JEKCA are brick-shaped blocks that are secured together by screws, using the tiny screwdriver provided with the kits. The product choices consist of a vast lineup of realistic dog and cat breeds in varying poses, as well as zoo animals and iconic ancient architecture. At the Tokyo Gift Show, JEKCA is focusing on showcasing its new Mini block sculptures, which are estimated to be able to be completed in approximately 5 hours. Unfortunately, the booth does not offer the opportunity for visitors to test-build with the JEKCA blocks, and only the finished products are displayed.
Official website: https://jekca.jp/

Among the several regional pavilions, including China and South Korea, one pavilion stole the spotlight: Hawaii. Attendees strolling through East Hall 5 could hardly miss the significant crowd gathering at the Hawaiian and Japanese collaborative cafe, which serves fan-favorite dishes and beverages. This cafe is the face of the Hawaii Pavilion, which is organized annually by the State of Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism. Brian Canevari, President of b.C. FRaME Inc., elaborated that the cafe also serves to encourage buyers to visit the Hawaiian Pavilion booths.

b.C. FRaME, a “Functional Research and Mechanical Experimentation” company based out of Kailua on the island of Oahu, is featuring its coconut husk planters at the Tokyo Gift Show. Not only are the planters organic and completely plastic-free, but they also serve as an additional source of nutrients for plants, as the growing roots eventually burrow into the husk itself. According to Brian, his first prototype planters from 2011 are still in good shape, so the husks have proven to be durable and long-lasting despite being comprised of organic material.
Furthermore, b.C. FRaME’s products have been a hot item among Japanese visitors for three years straight. When it comes to local buyers, Brian elaborated, they favor international companies that exhibit year after year. This indicates a commitment to creating a niche in the Japanese market. Even on the first day of TGS, customers that had purchased b.C. FRaME’s sample planters in previous years had visited the booth again, and a significant enough number of samples had been already bought that Brian was unsure his stock would last until the final day.
Not only are the hanging planters popular for Japan’s relatively compact living spaces, but also the market in its entirety is currently geared towards sustainable products. In the last several years, the Japanese public’s concern surrounding environmental issues has skyrocketed, and manufacturers have responded in turn, adapting to processes that uphold the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Marketing towards a society that is aiming to reduce net carbon emissions to zero, Brian shared an anecdote from his first year at the Tokyo Game Show. He had been surprised to receive a visit at his booth from the Japanese Government’s Minister of the Environment, who, regarding the coconut husk planters, stated, “Japan needs this now.”
Official website: https://www.bcframe.com/en-jp/pages/coconut-husk-planters

Tokyo Gift Show Autumn 2024 will continue through Friday, September 6, and entrance is free for industry professionals. The next edition in Spring of 2025 is scheduled to be held from February 12 to 14, also at the Tokyo Big Sight.

From July 24 to 26, Heat Wave Countermeasures Exhibition is being held as part of Maintenance Resilience TOKYO 2024 in the Tokyo Big Sight’s East Halls. The trade fair is running alongside the Occupational Health & Safety Exhibition and the Noise & Vibration Reduction Exhibition. A total of 12,899 visitors attended the event on the opening day. Reporters from Japan’s leading MICE news outlet, POP Inc., were live on the scene.

Global temperatures are ever-increasing due to the effects of climate change caused by natural gas emissions coupled with deforestation, leading to greater and greater demand for products to effectively defeat the heat. Almost poetically, on Monday of this week, simply two days before the exhibition, the Earth surpassed its highest average temperature in recorded history as heat waves swept over North America and Europe. In such extreme conditions, the issue of countermeasures is more pertinent than ever before.

Walking the aisles of the Heat Wave Countermeasures Exhibition was an incredibly refreshing experience. Wednesday, the opening day, was sweltering in its own right, and pausing for even a moment in front of an air-conditioning cooler or under an industrial ceiling fan emphasized the necessity of these products more than any sales pitch ever could. The exhibitor booths were swarming with a gaggle of film crews interviewing company representatives about the latest innovations in avoiding heat stroke.

Sakaken Co., Ltd., a construction hardware and tool materials manufacturer based in Niigata, is exhibiting its summer product line. The newest edition is the company’s “Cross-fan EX,” which is a small, portable fan with a revolutionary cooling plate that can be installed in laborers’ jackets. The plate chills the air as it exits the fan, and it is able to retain its low temperature independent of surrounding conditions. Sales Representative Hossain Arif explained that Sakaken was the first manufacturer to introduce the cooling plate technology in its fans. However, he noted that several other companies at the exhibition were already copying this technique, and he holds enough confidence in the product to anticipate that the majority of fan manufacturers will be copying it by next summer.
Sakaken’s long-term star is the PCM Power Cool Vest III, which contains technology used by NASA. The Power Cool Vest consists of a series of ice packs in the shape of a vest that is wearable under clothing. Once left in the freezer for 30 minutes, the vest remains cold for 3 to 4 hours in extreme heat, without the risk of the wearer getting a cold burn. The ice packs retain their cooling power even longer under less severe conditions, so indoor use is highly recommended.
Official website: https://sakaken.net/

Kokubo Ice Co., Ltd. is taking a more organic approach to preventing heat stroke. While other manufacturers have created their own gels and other concoctions, Kokubo decided that the best coolant of all may have already been bestowed upon us by Mother Nature herself, the substance that so many throughout history have attempted to replicate: ice. The company is showcasing its “Rock Ice” lineup at Heat Wave Countermeasures Exhibition. The crystal clear Rock Ice is offered in a variety of options. From 2-kilogram bags to the personal-use Rock Ice Glass, the cubes are perfect for chilling any beverage. Kokubo’s ice is also endorsed for use in sports conditioning to help prevent injuries in athletes.
Official website: https://kokuboice.co.jp/rockice/

DIC PLASTICS Inc. is focusing its efforts at its booth on demonstrating its cooling construction helmets, of which specifically two technologies are particularly revolutionary in mitigating the danger of heat stroke. Those are the “Heat Barrier” helmet and the “AEROMESH” liner.
Heat Barrier technology kneads heat-shielding pigments into the company’s patented helmet designs, thereby effectively deflecting heat from the Sun’s rays. This is calculated to cool the wearer by up to 12° Celsius more than the average white helmet. AEROMESH liners facilitate the passage of wind through the helmet, complemented by air holes that provide interior ventilation. AEROMESH is calculated to decrease the temperature inside the helmet by up to 8° Celsius.
Official website: https://www.dic-plas.co.jp/products/helmet/index.html

Heat Wave Countermeasures Exhibition 2024 will continue until Friday, June 27. Visitors are able to use their badges to enter the neighboring TECHNO-FRONTIER 2024 and Sustainable Factory EXPO 2024, which cover the rest of the Tokyo Big Sight’s East Exhibition Halls.

From May 22 to 24, the 33^rd New Environmental Exposition 2024 was held alongside the 16^th Global Warming Prevention Exposition (GWPE) 2024 at the Tokyo Big Sight. Reporters from leading Japanese MICE news outlet, POP inc., covered the event.

This edition of the New Environmental Exposition, one of Asia’s largest environmental industry trade fairs, consisted of sixteen themed areas. The most prominent area was overwhelmingly the Waste Recycling, Waste Disposal, and Demolition Area, which covering nearly half of the entire exhibition space. Following in size were the Thermal, Waste Power Generation, and Heat Utilization Area, the Biomass and Organic Waste Disposal Area, and the Environmental Software, Scales, Measurement, and Analysis Area. In addition, two outdoor demonstration venues featured live demonstrations of everything from magnetic lifting attachments for excavators to plastic waste incinerators.

A total of 92,121 professional visitors attended the event over the 3-day period. Even on the opening day, exhibitors were already pleased with the attendee turnout. INTER-ACTION Corporation team members emphasized that the New Environmental Exposition has the number 1 attendance rate of their customers out of any trade fair.

Notably, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) played a major role in all aspects of the event. Exhibitors were eager to outline which of the 17 SDGs their products or services were designed to promote. In addition, reusable and recyclable materials were prioritized during booth construction and walkways were void of carpeting.

Exhibiting companies offered solutions to a myriad of problems. Environment & Development Co., Ltd. introduced its consulting services for construction of industrial waste management facilities, renewable power plant creation, disaster waste management, and residential, industrial, and commercial facilities development. The team hoped that their participation in the New Environmental Exposition’s seminars would encourage attendees to visit their booth as well.
Official website: https://www.etod.co.jp/

Next Action Company (NAC) focused its exhibit on the company’s environmentally-friendly waterless printing method. Most industrial printing requires ink to be dampened by using large quantities of water, which inevitably become wasted. Removing water from the process greatly reduces the negative impact on the environment, while simultaneously creating a crisper image and reducing printing costs. However, downsides, such as an increase in static electricity, are also present.
Official website: https://nac-1951.co.jp/

EQJ Co. Ltd showcased their asbestos cleaning machines in likely the most attention-grabbing booth in the venue. Featuring the “MAX Shower” and the “MAX S,” Managing Executive officer Yoshiaki Nemoto explained that safe asbestos cleanup has become a pressing issue in Japan in recent years. Since Japanese buildings are designed to be durable enough to withstand earthquakes, structures last for many years, which means that asbestos removal is still prevalent today. EQJ’s cleaning equipment helps to mitigate the spread of asbestos during building demolition by containing asbestos stuck to workers’ uniforms before they leave the worksite.
Official website: https://www.eqj.jp

Kayama Kogyo Co., Ltd. provides waste management solutions for PCBs and other materials, as well as collects waste from companies to be recycled and then reintroduced back into the market. At the company’s New Environmental Exposition stall, Kayama presented honey from its on-site apiary. Corporate Planning Division Member Maya Asmae elaborated that the team employs the bees as bio-indicators. By observing the bees’ health and habits, Kayama can estimate the effects that its waste management practices have on the surrounding environment, as well as work towards mitigating ecological damages. The apiary also offers opportunities for the local community to learn about sustainability while collecting honey.
Official website: https://www.kayama-k.co.jp/english

The upcoming 34^th edition of the New Environmental Exposition will be held from May 28 to 30, 2025, at the Tokyo Big Sight.

From March 21 to 24, Japan International Boat Show 2024 was held at Pacifico Yokohama and the Yokohama Bayside Marina. A total of 34,579 business and general public visitors and 214 exhibiting companies filled both venues. Overall, 232 marine vehicles were showcased, including boats, yachts, jet skis, and kayaks, the majority of which were able to be boarded or ridden.

Situated in the Yokohama Bayside Marina, opening into Negishi Bay, the main attraction of the Japan Boat Show was certainly the large boat and yacht floating exhibition. This year’s event hosted 57 luxury vessels, ranging up to 26 meters in length. Visitors were able to not only board each yacht, but also to probe into below-deck bedrooms, to take in the view from second or third floor top decks, and even to experience the sitting in the driver’s seat (provided, of course, that they first removed their shoes).
KAIWO Yokohama, the Japanese agent for Swedish yacht producer Hallberg-Rassy, showcased the company’s new Hallberg-Rassy 40C sailing cruiser yacht. The ship is outfitted with utilities to support multiple-day journeys, and local representative Yuka Sugita explained that the built-in kitchen is a popular amenity as many customers prefer to cook their own meals out on the water.
Saxdor exhibited its custom yachts, which offer a wide array of modifications to cater to various boating styles. Customizations include quantity of rotating seats, a wet bar and fridge for entertaining guests, and weather-resistant screens. Other boats provided options for fishing fighting chairs with rod holders, capitalizing on the popularity of recreational fishing in Japan.

In addition, alongside the exhibits, the Yokohama Bayside Marina also hosted hands-on activities for the whole family. The “Captain Kids Experience” offered children opportunities to ride mini motorboats and sailboats. Boat driving was also available for all visitors to try regardless of experience level or boat license.

Two methods of transportation between the venues were implemented by the organizers: a bay cruise on a luxury cruiser (paid) and a shuttle bus (free of charge). The Yokohama Bay Cruise ran for approximately 45 minutes one-way, during which passengers were treated to views of Yokohama landmarks while sailing through the bays and channels around the port of Yokohama. The hustle and bustle of Yokohama waters was tangible, as the cruise passed between cargo ships, barges, and recreational fishing boats, and even the occasional speedboat flew by.

Meanwhile, within the halls of Pacifico Yokohama, a more conventional, yet not less exciting indoor exhibition was also underway. On top of a vast selection of marine goods, the venue was comprised of a handful of “Villages.” The Fishing Village, Jet Village, Sailing Village, Marine Kids Village, and the brand-new Water Safety Village gathered exhibitors of similar products and services in convenient sectors.

Watersports were a hot topic this year, with booths featuring eFoil electric surfboards, standup paddleboards, and windsurfing boards. SE Amusement Co., Ltd. introduced WAKEPARX, a boatless wakeboarding park. At WAKEPARX, athletes are pulled along by an overhead cable system as opposed to by a boat. This permits controlled changing of speed, which is safer and more accessible to beginners.
Other exhibitors presented boat engines, GPS fishing map technology, lifejackets, inflatable house boats, water rescue gear, marina memberships, and boat leasing. For visitors who already own their boat, AV equipment, a draft beer machine, and high-end champagne were perfect for hosting parties out on the sea.

Finally, environmental protection and sustainability were overarching themes present in every facet of the event, especially due to the notoriety of large yachts to contribute to ocean pollution. Tyura Sango used their booth to educate visitors on the importance of protecting coral reefs, which provide a home to 1/4^th of all marine species, and to explain their organization’s coral replanting activities. The team encourages everyone to do their part in helping prevent pollution.

The Japan International Boat Show online content will be available until May 31 on the event’s official website. The 64^th edition will be held March 20 to 23, 2025, at Pacifico Yokohama and the Yokohama Bayside Marina.