Latest Podcast Episode

We look at Japan’s Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business and its impact on the arcade industry in Japan. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, video games became increasingly popular in Japan, drawing public concern over how much time and money players were spending in game centers. With little cultural context for games as entertainment, many assumed there must be some form of gambling or prize element involved, leading to growing moral panic. These concerns culminated in a 1985 amendment to an existing law that brought game centers under strict regulation. We examine the role of industry trade groups during this period, including the NRO, an operators organization that supported regulation under the belief it would disadvantage large arcades while leaving smaller venues such as department store rooftops and grocery stores unaffected. That assumption proved incorrect. At the same time, JAMA, representing manufacturers, organized its own operator segment to counter the NRO’s influence. Because the law was written broadly, regulators were left to define what qualified as a controlled amusement, resulting in a chilling effect on arcades across Japan. These regulations reshaped the industry and pushed many companies to shift their focus toward home consoles and other markets.