Japanese Democratic Party To Support Videogames

The Japanese gaming industry is about to receive support at the national level, according to Japanese news reports, as the country's Liberal Democratic Party -- the party of current Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi -- plans two organizations to promote the export of Japan's indigenous forms of entertainment. One of these will concentrate on martial arts, while the other will push Japanese-developed videogames around the world. The gaming promotion will be mixed in with the organization's larger goal of promoting Japanese pop media, which also includes anime and manga. The organization has no name as of yet, but will be working with the Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) trade body, the Japanese equivalent of the U.S.-based Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The organization will consist of 34 members, and plans in the works so far involve playing up the more globally-recognized anime and game characters such as Gundam and Pokémon. An apparent plan to develop a "Japanese Las Vegas" was also floated.