TOKYO – The Japan Times, Ltd. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Chairperson and President: Minako Suematsu) announces its participation as the official media partner for the Esports Research Network Conference 2026 (ERNC 2026), which will be held from Sept. 15 to 17 at the University of Tsukuba. ERNC 2026 marks the first time the Esports Research Network’s (ERN) flagship international conference is being held in Japan. Operating under the theme “Bridging Gaming Heritage and Esports Futures,” this groundbreaking edition will invite business leaders alongside academics, creating a joint academic-and-business event for the first time in the conference’s history.
Founded in 2019, the global nonprofit ERN boasts over 600 members across more than 60 countries. As of late July, ERNC 2026 had already attracted registration interest from more than 20 countries and 30 universities. The three-day conference will feature a wide range of speakers, including representatives from SEGA Corp. and the Japan Esports Union (JeSU).
Confirmed speakers include Hideki Okamura, special advisor to SEGA, JeSU, and GAKU, who will deliver the keynote address: “Esports Journey in Japan: Looking Back, Challenging the Present, and Forging the Future.” Tobias Scholz, associate professor at the University of Agder and founding chairperson of ERN, is also slated to speak. The inaugural Japan edition of the ERNC 2026 that has been originally established by the Esports Research Network, was made possible through the substantial support of GAKU Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based esports education company, with the University of Tsukuba (Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences Faculty) as the host university, and in collaboration with other supporting organisations.
This conference is supported by grants and subsidies from the KDDI Foundation and the Tsukuba Tourism Convention Association. As an official media partner, The Japan Times will provide editorial content, including conference reports and interviews with speakers. Through this partnership, The Japan Times will leverage its media channels to promote the conference and strongly support the expansion of its reach both domestically and internationally.
Sayo Okamoto, founder and CEO of GAKU — who co-organized the conference in Japan and will participate in a panel session on grassroots esports education and player career paths — shared her thoughts on the collaboration: “This partnership will enable us to broadcast Japan’s gaming heritage and esports culture in a way it truly deserves. The credibility and reach of The Japan Times will be tremendously helpful in allowing researchers, industry leaders, and the general public to understand the significance of this conference and why it is being hosted in Japan.” Registration for ERNC 2026 is currently open, with academic, industry, and general admission tracks available. The Japan Times is Japan’s oldest English-language newspaper, founded in 1897.
Since establishing its website in 1996 and now utilizing social media, it has been broadcasting the current state of Japan and global trends to the world. Its readership includes foreign residents in Japan, government officials worldwide, think tanks, and international media who rely on it as a trusted source of information about Japan. Its past archives are utilized in overseas universities and public libraries for historical research on Japan and Asia.
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