Japan Esports Awards 2025 Set for January 2026 In Yokohama

The Japan Esports Awards 2025 have been officially scheduled for January 12, 2026, in Yokohama, Japan.

Organized by the Japan Esports Union (JeSU), the awards ceremony recognizes outstanding contributions and achievements in esports over the past calendar year.

This year’s edition will feature several categories, including Esports Player of the Year, Under-18 Player of the Year, Video Creator of the Year, Best Esports Team, and, for the fighting game community, the highly anticipated Best Fighting Game Player of the Year.

In 2024, Kawano earned the Best Fighting Game Player award, thanks in large part to his impressive performance at the Esports World Cup, where he finished second overall and was the highest-placing Japanese competitor. Tokido claimed Esports Player of the Year, while Daigo Umehara was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Nominees for the 2025 awards have not yet been announced, but fans can expect some of Japan’s brightest fighting game talent to be in the spotlight once again.