{"id":43483,"date":"2025-01-30T14:59:13","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T05:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=43483"},"modified":"2025-01-30T15:07:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T06:07:20","slug":"japanese-developers-on-steam-cant-receive-revenue-from-adult-games-due-to-japanese-banks-blocking-transfers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/japanese-developers-on-steam-cant-receive-revenue-from-adult-games-due-to-japanese-banks-blocking-transfers\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese developers on Steam can\u2019t receive revenue from adult games due to Japanese banks blocking transfers\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It has been revealed this week that Japanese developers who are distributing adult-oriented games via Steam are facing issues when trying to receive their profits. It seems that Japanese banks are suddenly blocking such money transfers. Politician Taro Yamada, a member of the Diet\u2019s upper house, brought attention to the issue on his official X account<\/a> and in a YouTube broadcast<\/a> (in Japanese).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As reported by Yamada, there have been numerous cases in which Japanese developers of adult-oriented games have been unable to transfer their profits from overseas (i.e. from Steam\u2019s bank in the US) to a Japanese bank account. Both Japan\u2019s Financial Services Agency (FSA), which is responsible for banks, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), which oversees games, have confirmed that this issue exists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Japanese
Diagram of the situation provided by Taro Yamada on X.<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But what is the reasoning behind this move by Japanese banks? In a hearing with the FSA (reported on by Game*Spark<\/a>), the banks gave a vague answer, saying that it is not only because the games are intended for adults. Rather, it is apparently a \u201ccomprehensive decision\u201d based on laws such as the Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds and the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Yamada argues that if these are legal, disclosed transactions, then they should be granted. He is currently working with the FSA and METI to try to find a solution to this issue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On his X profile<\/a>, Yamada lists freedom of expression and digital policy among his specializations. When otaku dating site Aellune had visa payments momentarily suspended on their site last December, he spoke out<\/a> about the negative impact that these sudden, intransparent decisions by international payment processors have on legitimate businesses. These abrupt suspensions have become a hot topic in recent months, impacting bishojo game developers<\/a>, manga archives<\/a> and fanart sites<\/a>, and one that we have covered heavily on AUTOMATON West. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems that Japanese banks are now becoming a problem for Japanese creators too. Considering that Japan is positioning anime and video games as its core industries for economic growth<\/a>, this move by Japanese banks seems counter-intuitive. It will be interesting to see how this situation is dealt with.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Japanese developers of adult-oriented games on Steam are having their money transfers blocked by Japanese banks- but why is this happening?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":43488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[17],"class_list":["post-43483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-japan-related-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\nJapanese developers on Steam can\u2019t receive revenue from adult games due to Japanese banks blocking transfers\u00a0 - AUTOMATON WEST<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Japanese developers of adult-oriented games on Steam are having their money transfers blocked by Japanese banks- but why is this happening?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/japanese-developers-on-steam-cant-receive-revenue-from-adult-games-due-to-japanese-banks-blocking-transfers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Japanese developers on Steam can\u2019t receive revenue from adult games due to Japanese banks blocking transfers\u00a0 - 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