Japan Indies: Independent Video Game Designers and Institutions in Japan Since 2010

• Project/Area Number: 25K04668
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 04030:Cultural anthropology and folklore-related
• Research Institution: Waseda University
• Principal Investigator: ハーツハイム ブライアン・ヒカリ 早稲田大学, 国際学術院, 准教授 (20801468)
• Project Period (FY): 2025-04-01 – 2028-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2025)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2027: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
• Keywords: indie games / Japan / cultural intermediaries / game shows / game studies

Outline of Research at the Start

-Survey and interview a range of "indie game" developers in Japan from 2010 to the present
-Map the role of key indie game institutions in and around Japan and interview key organizers of indie game promotion
-Analyze select "indie games" and genres for critical meanings and values