Japan’s video game and digital entertainment industries have shaped global popular culture for decades—defining genres, aesthetics, storytelling, and business models that resonate far beyond Japan. From iconic franchises to innovative approaches to branding and localization, Japanese creators and companies continue to influence how games are developed, marketed, and experienced worldwide.
Japan Currents 2026: Japanese Video Game Culture Crossing the Pacific brings together industry leaders, creators, and scholars to explore how Japanese video game culture travels across borders and adapts to the U.S. market. Through talks and discussion, the program will examine creative philosophies, business strategies, and the cultural exchange that has made Japanese games a global force.
Co-hosted with the University of Washington Center for Japanese Studies and the Foster School of Business Global Business Center, this seminar will be held at the University of Washington’s Kane Hall. Thanks to generous support from a grant from the National Association of Japan–America Societies, Inc., with support from the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., the seminar portion of this event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required for security purposes.
Following the seminar, a post-seminar networking reception will be held in the Walker-Ames Room, offering attendees the opportunity to continue the conversation with speakers, panelists, faculty, and fellow professionals from the gaming, technology, creative, and academic communities in an informal setting.
*The presentation session is free to attend, however pre-registration is strictly required.
*Alcoholic beverages will be served during the networking reception, and valid ID may be required. Minors under 21 are welcome to attend; however, if you are under 21, please make sure clarifying your age in the registration form.
Learn More about the event
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$60 Regular | $30 Seniors (65+) | $20 Students
Keynote Speakers
The keynote speakers for this event are internationally recognized leaders whose work has shaped story-driven games in Japan and beyond. Shinji Hashimoto, a legendary producer behind Final Fantasy, and Ryan Payton, Founding Director of Camouflaj, bring decades of experience advancing the global games industry.
Shinji Hashimoto – Sr Vice President at the ForwardWorks Room (Aniplex) & Sr Advisor at Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Shinji Hashimoto is a legendary Japanese game producer whose leadership helped shape one of Japan’s most internationally acclaimed RPG franchises, Final Fantasy. Over nearly three decades at Square Enix, he guided the company’s global strategy, brand development, and creative direction, playing a pivotal role in bringing Japanese storytelling and artistry to audiences around the world.
After retiring from Square Enix in 2022, Hashimoto assumed new roles as Senior Vice President at the ForwardWorks Room within Aniplex Inc. and Senior Advisor at Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., where he continues to advance entertainment and cross-cultural storytelling. He serves as Executive Producer of Resident Evil Survival Unit, a mobile strategy game published by Aniplex, based on CAPCOM’s renowned survival-horror series. With decades of experience bridging Japanese game studios and global markets, Hashimoto remains a driving force for innovation, collaboration, and cultural exchange across the worlds of entertainment.
Ryan Payton – Founder of Camouflaj
Ryan Payton is the Founder of Camouflaj, a Bellevue-based game studio operating within Oculus Studios. He began his career at Kojima Productions in Japan, where he contributed to the legendary Metal Gear Solid series before founding Camouflaj in 2011 with a vision to create story-driven games that unite cinematic depth with interactive innovation. Under his leadership, Camouflaj developed the episodic stealth thriller République, the virtual reality hit Marvel’s Iron Man VR, and the acclaimed VR experience Batman: Arkham Shadow, which launched in October 2024 and won Best VR/AR Game at The Game Awards 2024.
A bilingual producer based in Bellevue, Washington, and Kamakura, Japan, Payton brings a distinctive East–West perspective to game development and remains deeply committed to fostering creativity, cultural exchange, and pioneering storytelling in interactive media.
Panel Discussion
This panel discussion explores the global video game industry with a special focus on Japan and its influence on today’s interactive media landscape. Facilitated by Stephanie Lee, Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Foster School of Business, University of Washington, the conversation will feature Shinji Hashimoto, Ryan Payton, and Maya Yamazaki.
Stephanie Lee – Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Foster School of Business, University of Washington
Stephanie Lee is an assistant professor of information systems at the Foster School of Business, University of Washington. Prior to joining UW, she received her PhD in economics from Stanford University. Her research examines the social and economic consequences of information technologies, with a focus on understanding how technological advances affect individual behavior, firm decisions, and public policy. She utilizes a range of empirical approaches in her research, including econometrics, structural modeling, and machine learning. She collaborates closely with industry partners, government agencies, and medical institutions to access large-scale datasets and address questions with practical and policy relevance. Her work has been published in leading journals, including Management Science, Information Systems Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, and Production and Operations Management.
Maya Yamazaki – Chair of the Technology Practice & Video Game Group Lead at Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Maya Yamazaki is a partner in the Seattle office of Davis Wright Tremaine, where she is the chair of the Technology Practice Group and the lead for the Video Game Group. Her practice focuses on technology transactions that enable emerging technology deployment, media and gaming licensing development and distribution, and intellectual property protection.
She is well-known in the video game and digital media legal field for bringing some of the most iconic titles to market. Her clients include many of the world’s most recognizable technology and entertainment brands, ranging from startups to Fortune 10 companies. Her day-to-day work includes the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of technology deals, software licenses, platform integration agreements, merchandising relationships, collaboration and marketing agreements, and digital media development and launches. She also counsels clients on a range of issues including advertising, marketing, and promotional matters. Maya received her BA with honors from the University of Washington (Jackson School of International Studies) and her JD from Georgetown University.
