The Japanese Game Industry

Travel to Japan for an inside look at Japan's game culture and industry.

• Visit Japanese gaming studios and meet professionals working in the field.
• Explore how the Japanese gaming industry has influenced Japanese culture, art, and design.
• Attend lectures/events in the Game Program at Kyoto Computer Gakuin (KCG).
• Join a weekend game jam with local Japanese students.
• Participate in cultural excursions in Kyoto and surrounding areas.

No Japanese language is required; however, a beginner Japanese language level or higher is preferred.

This immersive study abroad program takes students to Kyoto and Tokyo, two cultural and technological hubs of Japan, to explore the dynamic world of Japanese video game development. Designed for students majoring in game design, illustration, graphic design, creative writing, computer science, and related fields, the program offers a unique opportunity to gain firsthand experience and insight into one of the most influential gaming industries in the world.

You’ll attend lectures at a local educational institution known for its game program, visit top game studios, meet working professionals across various industry roles, and gain exposure to the collaborative and creative processes that drive successful game production in Japan.

Course Term: Spring course at RIT, travel to Japan in early Summer
2026 Travel Dates: May 14-30, 2026
Credits: 3

Course Details:

• IGME 350 - International Games Industry (3 credits)

Students will be enrolled in a spring course at RIT and will travel to Japan in early summer. The Spring 2026 course will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 to 3:15 pm.

Open to undergraduate majors (2nd year and above) and graduate students, 2.5 GPA or higher. Preferred demonstrated skills in game design/development, art/design, coding, or creative writing. Students must bring a laptop to Japan to participate in the game jam.

Program space is limited. The program application process requires an interview and portfolio review. The faculty director(s) will contact applicants to complete these components either during the application process or after the application deadline.

Application Deadline: October 19th, 2025

Eligibility:

• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher (students with lower than a 2.5 GPA would be considered on a case-by-case basis)
• Have a clear conduct record with RIT
• Have no financial holds on your RIT eServices account at the time of your program acceptance/confirmation

Program Cost & Financial Aid

Program Cost: Student budget worksheet, Japanese Game Industry spring/summer 2025 (OUTDATED) - outlines all program costs. An updated budget for the 2026 program will be available soon. Students can take a copy of the budget worksheet to a meeting with RIT financial aid to determine if their aid may apply toward program costs.

Financial Aid:
Financial aid may cover some program costs. As you review the budget worksheet, please remember that it does not include your RIT financial aid or scholarships, which may cover some of the program costs. The purpose of the budget worksheet is to show all the costs associated with your study abroad program, which will help your RIT Financial Aid Assistant Director determine how your aid and scholarships may be applied. 

To understand how your financial aid and scholarships may apply to your program costs:

• Make an appointment with your financial aid assistant director (call Financial Aid at 585-475-2186) and mention that you are calling for a study abroad appointment
• Upload a copy of your budget worksheet(s) via the Financial Aid upload portal at https://join.rit.edu/register/FA_upload (at least 48 hours prior to your scheduled meeting so they have time to prepare) 
  • Please rename the file name of your budget worksheet before uploading it to the Financial Aid portal based on the instructions provided in the portal (adding your name and student ID)

To find out the name of your financial aid assistant director for your degree program visit: https://www.rit.edu/admissions/aid/contact#counseling-team

We recommend you meet with Financial Aid before the application deadline so you understand how your aid will apply. The RIT financial aid office is located in Bausch and Lomb Center (Bldg. 77), 2nd floor, 2125.

Scholarships:

• RIT Education Abroad Travel Grants ($500-$1,000)
  All students with pending applications for this program in RIT Study Abroad Compass will be automatically considered for an RIT Education Abroad Travel Grant. You will be informed of your scholarship status shortly after the application deadline. Scholarships are awarded based on financial need.

• Other scholarships: RIT Study Abroad Scholarships, National Study Abroad Scholarships

To Apply

1) Start an application in the Compass (RIT's study abroad application system)
Once you login to the Compass you will need to complete some profile/registration questions, then use the “Search Programs” tab to search for “Japanese Game Industry" to complete an application.

2) Watch this video, which goes over all important application steps for RIT Faculty-Led Programs

Contact

Luis Bobadilla Sotelo
Senior Lecturer, School of Interactive Games and Media
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
labigm@rit.edu

Sean Boyle
Principle Lecturer, School of Interactive Games and Media
Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences
sean.boyle@rit.edu