THQ Nordic opens shop in Japan
THQ Nordic has just announced that they're opening a distribution outlet in Tokyo, Japan. The extension of the THQ brand will be headed up by Yuji Kato, a 20 year veteran of the gaming industry, who will be managing a team of other marketing and development mainstays. Details are a bit thin on the ground right now and it seems that for now, this outfit will focus mainly on marketing and distribution as opposed to development. That said, with the Japanese market booming in recent years with studios like Fromsoftware and Platinum Games, it makes sense for THQ to extend their brand. I've always had a soft spot for THQ and their IP and I was happy to see their comeback a few years ago, so I'm looking forward to what they accomplish in the land of the rising sun.
THQ Nordic expanding to ?? (Japan)
Konnichiwa, THQ Nordic Japan KK (????/kabushiki kaisha)
Vienna, AUSTRIA, Tokyo, JAPAN, October 21 2019 – THQ Nordic Japan KK has officially been incorporated. The tasks and responsibilities of the newly formed entity are distribution, PR, and marketing of THQ Nordic’s and HandyGames’ slate of games in the Japanese market.
“In our opinion, the only real way to truly embrace (pun intended) the Japanese market is to run it with a team of Japanese professionals, which was our approach for the new Japanese subsidiary. A warm, heartfelt welcome to the entire team based in Tokyo, Japan” comments Klemens Kreuzer, Managing Director at THQ Nordic GmbH. “Good things come to those who wait and we took our time to realize it with the best setup possible.”
“At this point, I would like to quote Persona 3: “Two in Harmony Surpasses One in Perfection”.Our team is prepared, honoured and absolutely ready to kickstart THQ Nordic’s operations on the Japanese market”, comments Yuji Kato, Managing Director of THQ Nordic Japan KK. “We are honoured that we were given this opportunity and can not wait to bring THQ Nordic content to our Japanese audience.”
The Japanese entity is THQ Nordic´s second international distribution outlet, apart from the 2012 established, US based distribution company, THQ Nordic Inc.
The Japanese team consists of key people that delivered more than 200 titles in 15 years to the Japanese market, ranging from feature phones to consoles:
Yuji Kato - Managing Director
Nearly 20 years of game industry experience
Former programmer
Junko Kato – Manager
Former editor
Former programmer, mainly QA and project management
Hiroshi Ogawa – Project Management
Former programmer
Networking and exhibitions management
