Utilizing Popular Characters for Regional Growth
The ability to stimulate regional economies and cultures is the unifying force behind games with historical themes. Among these, Sengoku BASARA was responsible for igniting a renewed interest in history, and continues to be popular among young people, from teenagers to people in their 30s. In this way, game content popular among the young people expected to lead this regional growth can become a trigger for local revitalization.
Utilizing these strengths, in recent years Capcom has focused CSR activities on regional municipalities. For example, leveraging the extraordinarily high visibility of Sengoku BASARA, Capcom supports regional growth from four angles: economic development, cultural promotion, public safety and participation in elections.
Efforts including gubernatorial election posters targeting young people, vehicle-related theft prevention posters and collaborations with museums to increase attendance are already demonstrating results. The following section introduces examples of Capcom initiatives aimed at regional growth.
The Appeal of Sengoku BASARA
While this action game for home video game consoles is based around the warlords and historical facts of the Warring States (Sengoku) Period, its fresh, unique take on this theme proved popular and ignited interest in history nationwide; in total, the series has sold 3.8 million units.
Initiatives Across Japan
Capcom uses Sengoku BASARA characters, which are extremely popular with young men and women, to increase tourist numbers and sales of tie-in merchandise at events. By appealing to the youth and family demographics in particular, we have realized significant economic results.
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, October 2016
Popular Sengoku BASARA Warlords
Ii Naotora and Tokugawa Ieyasu Contribute to the Revitalization of Hamamatsu City
Capcom released an app that utilizes Sengoku BASARA characters, and features stamp rally and guide map functions that guide users around 30 historic and tourist destinations in Hamamatsu. Capcom further contributed to Hamamatsu’s tourism programs by wrapping a train on the Tenryu Hamanako Line with Sengoku BASARA characters (dubbed the “Naotora Gou”), as well as with life-sized stickers of Ii Naotora featured on the “Red Train” of the Enshu Railroad—both limited—time activities taking place from October 2016 through December 2017.
Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, March 2017
Sengoku BASARA‘s Sanada Yukimura Struts His Stuff at Historic Sanada Clan Sites
Sengoku BASARA‘s Sanada Yukimura is helping to bolster local revitalization efforts as the city of Ueda’s mascot. Since 2010, Capcom and the Ueda Chamber of Commerce and Industry have collaborated on a number of events and products, bolstering the city’s tourism and overall image. These efforts lead Ueda CCI chairman Mr. Yanagisawa to honor Capcom with a Certificate of Appreciation on March 10, 2017.
Wakayama Prefecture, August 2016
Sengoku BASARA Character Used in Wakayama Prefecture Tourism Promotion Campaign
The Taiga Drama Sanada Maru/Sanada Yukimura & Sengoku Wakayama Promotional Campaign Association used a character from Sengoku BASARA Sanada Yukimura-den, the latest title in the series, as a campaign character. A stamp rally was conducted around historic Sanada-related areas and the game character appeared on a pamphlet providing Wakayama Prefecture sightseeing and gourmet dining information, bringing a sense of excitement to Wakayama Prefecture tourism measures.
Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, March 2015
Conclusion of a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with a Regional Municipality, a Game Industry First
Using costumed Sengoku BASARA characters including Takeda Shingen, these activities began with a stamp rally and the distribution of premium merchandise gift vouchers in support of tourism promotion activities leading to local revitalization. Looking ahead to 2019, when Kofu celebrates 500 years since its establishment, we plan to utilize local hero Takeda Shingen to expand these measures and generate buzz that attracts people from all over Japan.
Related Pages
Capcom co-sponsors events at museums to increase the number of visitors and support historical and cultural enlightenment. These activities aim to provide young people with opportunities to learn about local history and culture through their interest in Sengoku BASARA characters.
Saitama Prefecture, July–August 2015
Special Museum Exhibit at the Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore
Inspired by interest in the game characters, a special exhibit titled Sengoku Guide—Cool Basara Style was held at the Saitama Prefectural Museum of History and Folklore to teach young people about the history of Saitama from July 18 to August 30, 2015. The display, which featured arms, armor, helmets and ink paintings, attracted nearly 14,000 people, more than twice as many as any other exhibition project in the past.
Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture, March 2013
Collaboration with Tsuchiura City
Museum Draws 28,000 People
Capcom co-sponsored The BASARA’s Armory: The Armor and Blades of Busho Who Tore Across Sengoku special exhibition held at the Tsuchiura City Museum in Ibaraki Prefecture. The exhibit featured Sengoku BASARA character illustrations and panels that drew a wide range of age groups to the museum. During the seven-week special exhibit, 28,000 people, equivalent to an entire year’s worth of visitors, attended the exhibit, the first achievement of this magnitude for the museum.
Related Pages
Capcom supports the maintenance and improvement of local public safety in conjunction with police departments by holding events and creating posters to raise awareness featuring warlords from Sengoku BASARA who are associated with each prefecture. These efforts have yielded quantitative results with respect to the reduction of crime.
Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, February 2014
Using Three Capcom Characters to Prevent Vehicle-Related Theft and Other Crime in the Keihanshin Area
The Sengoku BASARA characters Sanada Yukimura, Keiji Maeda and Kuroda Kanbei, associated with Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo Prefectures, were used as mascots in a joint-campaign aimed at preventing vehicle-related theft and other crime in these areas. In addition to displaying awareness posters, 25,000 leaflets were distributed by police departments and auto parts retailers as part of a broad promotion aimed at reducing crime in these three Kinki region prefectures.
Osaka, April 2013
First Use of Date Masamune in an Osaka Police Department Vehicle-Related Theft Prevention Awareness Poster
Date Masamune, a character appearing in Sengoku BASARA, was the first mascot utilized for the Osaka Police Department vehicle-related theft prevention campaign. Vehicle-related crimes are common in Osaka, which in 2012 had the highest incidence of vehicle-related thefts in Japan and has since remained at a high level. Amid these conditions, Capcom contributed to police department public relations awareness activities through the use of characters popular with young people that were displayed on posters and distributed on leaflets.
Related Pages
Capcom supports awareness of elections and increased rates of youth participation in voting through the creation of awareness posters and events held in conjunction with election committees making use of local hero characters that appear in Sengoku BASARA.
Kochi Prefecture, November 2015
Promoting Gubernatorial Elections with a Mascot Based on Local Hero Chosokabe Motochika
A character based on local hero Chosokabe Motochika was used in an attempt to increase voter turnout and stimulate interest among young people, who have little interest in elections, in the Kochi Prefecture gubernatorial elections held in November 2015. A variety of media, including posters displayed throughout the prefecture, television commercials, radio and newspaper advertisements and streetcars wrapped in promotional materials were used to announce the elections, which resulted in significant buzz being generated on social media, mainly Twitter and Facebook.
Miyagi Prefecture, October 2009
Promoting Gubernatorial Elections with Overwhelmingly Popular Mascot Date Masamune
Aiming to raise the voter participation rate among young people and spread awareness of Miyagi Prefecture gubernatorial elections, Date Masamune, a well-known feudal lord from the Sengoku Period and overwhelmingly popular Sengoku BASARA game character, was chosen as the election awareness mascot. In addition to election posters displayed throughout the prefecture, multimedia including television commercials and public transit ads were vigorously employed in a broad appeal that resulted in raising the voter participation rate 6.2 percentage points.
Related Pages
“Master Shingen Returns!” Kofu City Official Site (external link)
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