takashi-sensui
Latest
Head of Xbox Japan resigns following weak Xbox One sales
Takashi Sensui is resigning from his role as head of Xbox Japan, according to Kotaku's translation of a report from Famitsu. Sensui has held his status since 2006, but rather than departing from Microsoft entirely, Kotaku reports he will support Xbox Japan and serve as General Manager for the Interactive Entertainment Business from Microsoft's US headquarters. Replacing Sensui's role will be a collaborative effort between Yoshinami Takahashi, general manager of the Consumer and Partner Group, and Nobuyoshi Yokoi, boss of the Consumer and Partner Group Retail Business. Kotaku notes this is part of a reorganization effort within Xbox Japan. The Xbox One only managed to move 23,562 units during the first week of its September debut in Japan, and adding up Media Create's weekly hardware sales data (as compiled in our weekly Stiq Figures series) puts the console at more than 38,000 for lifetime Japanese sales. In comparison, the PlayStation 4 cleared 322,000 units within its first two days in Japan, while the Wii U moved 308,570 during its Japanese launch. The Xbox family has previously faced uphill battles in the region – for example, it took the Xbox 360 almost six years to surpass 1.5 million units in Japan. [Image: Microsoft]
Xbox's Japan chief resigns after bleak Xbox One sales
It's no secret that the Xbox One has been far from a hit in the Land of the Rising Sun, and now this is having its negative effects on the people in charge. As reported by Famitsu, a Japanese publication which focuses on video games, Head of Xbox Japan Takashi Sensui decided to step down following dismal sales of Microsoft's latest console in that country. So far, the Xbox One has only managed to shift less than 39,000 units since launch, of which around 24,000 were sold within the first few days of being available. Sony, on the other hand, managed to sell roughly 322,000 PlayStation 4s during the first few days of its debut in Japan.
Kinect comes to XBLA, Microsoft Game Studios reveals five Japanese titles
Microsoft Game Studios unveiled five new Japanese partnerships during its Tokyo Game Show 2010 keynote today, each intended to "provide fun for users throughout the world." Takashi Sensui, general manager of Xbox in Japan, claimed the projects would "define the future of Xbox 360 and Kinect" -- a future that now promises Kinect-enabled Xbox Live Arcade games. Out of the five new XBLA-exclusive games announced today, three will use Kinect: Haunt, a spooky adventure from Parappa the Rappa's Masaya Matsuura; Project Codename D, a stylish new endeavor from Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda 51; and Project Draco, a Panzer Dragoon-esque flight game from Phantom Dust creator Yukio Futatsugi. These will join third-party Kinect games Child of Eden, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor and Rise of Nightmares in 2011. Microsoft also revealed Fire-Pro Wrestling from Spike, and a new version of Radiant Silvergun from Treasure (much to the chagrin of eBay profiteers). Both are coming to XBLA in 2011.
Microsoft executives delivering keynote at TGS 2010
CESA, the group responsible for planning the annual Tokyo Game Show, has announced the parties responsible for delivering one of the event's two main keynotes on its opening day, September 16. Microsoft entertainment exec Takashi Sensui and Microsoft Game Studio vice president Phil Spencer will take the stage as TGS 2010 kicks off, delivering a speech titled "Xbox 360's Vision and 2010's Strategy." We can only hope this means we'll get to see Spencer break out into a full-blown Kinect rave. Sony's Kaz Hirai delivered a similar presentation during last year's festivities, one which was chock-full of news about PlayStation Move and the PSP Go. Hopefully, Microsoft's speech will be equally rife with hot scoops.
Microsoft's Sensui talks Xbox success (and lack thereof) in Japan
Xbox Japan boss, Takashi Sensui, recently sat down with Famitsu [via 1UP] to discuss Microsoft's successes and failures in the Japanese market since launching the original Xbox in 2002. Unlike other carefully worded and positively spun interviews given when discussing complete failures, Sensui leaves no stone unturned when outlining Microsoft's initial mistakes in the region. One of the major issues discussed was Microsoft's decision to price-cut the original Xbox, three months after it launched in Japan -- offering early adopters games and accessories as a consolation. "I was like 'Whoa, we're dropping the price already?!'," Sensui told the magazine. "We called it the 'Thank You Campaign,' but it was really more of a 'Sorry About That Campaign.'" Today the Xbox 360 isn't exactly lighting up the sales charts in Japan, but a steady stream of titles catered to the market have helped spike sales at times throughout the last year -- a plan Microsoft continues today. "I really feel like we're expanding now," Sensui said. "Seeing how the 360 has expanded its sales every year makes me very happy. I truly appreciate the support of the users and the perseverance of all the game developers that made it possible."
Microsoft pushing for 1 million 360s in Japan
With Japanese Xbox 360 sales recently reinvigorated, even outselling the Wii -- or coming damned close, depending on who you believe -- Microsoft is keen to keep up the momentum. Speaking to Edge, Xbox Japan head Takashi Sensui noted the sales boost, saying "[Microsoft needs] to make the strengthening of our RPG lineup a priority." In addition Sensui said that Microsoft is working to keep 360 supplies up in the region, no doubt referring to Japan's retailers exhausting the country's entire supply of 360 consoles following the debut of Tales of Vesperia. The next goal for Microsoft is to break the 1 million unit mark, a goal it's close to reaching with recent sales estimates hovering at nearly 720,000. Sensui is hopeful about the 360's prospects, saying "we believe that Japanese consumers will see what we have to offer and agree that is is the best option available."With some big name RPGs on the way -- such as Star Ocean: The Last Hope (above) -- and the Tokyo Game Show taking place next month, we're sure we'll be getting an earful of Microsoft's strategy for Japan in the coming weeks.
Xbox 360 reaching for 1 million units in Japan
A recent Edge Online article delves into Microsoft's persistent, price-slashing attempts to get the Xbox 360 into the hands and minds of Japanese consumers. With the system's sales sitting at 717,275 according to Enterbrain's last count, it seems Microsoft's first real milestone, while comparatively minor, may finally be within reach. "As an initial milestone, we would like to hit the one million mark as soon as possible, and are continuing to work hard to get to this milestone and go beyond," Xbox Japan boss Takashi Sensui told Edge.Sensui adds that a successful strategy also hinges on going beyond a lineup of fancy RPGs -- though Tales of Vesperia's recent halo indicates that it can't hurt. "The core of the Xbox 360 business is made up of three elements: great titles, the best online service and accessible hardware," he said. "Now we have all three elements firmly in place, we believe that Japanese consumers will see what we have to offer and agree that it is the best option available."Well, unless they want to play Final Fantasy XIII, which will be available on the Xbox 360 everywhere but Japan.
Japanese Xbox manager replaced
In a sign that Microsoft isn't taking the poor sales of the Xbox 360 in Japan sitting down, Yoshihiro Maruyama is being replaced as general manager of the Xbox Division for Microsoft Japan by Takashi Sensui. Sensui was director of the marketing department and game content group before being promoted; Maruyama is being demoted transitioned "to a new role where his unique vision and foresight will be applied in a strategic capacity within the Entertainment and Devices organization."Luckily Sansui has no illusions about the difficulty of capturing Japanese market share, stating, "We acknowledge that achieving success in Japan will not come easily or quickly for Xbox."[Via Joystiq]
