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The Grand Finale of the 2025 Catan Japan Championship

The year 2025 has marked a significant milestone for board gaming enthusiasts in Japan with the completion of the Catan Japan Championship, hosted by toy manufacturer GP Inc. This event has proudly become the largest board game championship in Japan, attracting over 1,300 participants across its regional tournaments, and culminating in an exhilarating final competition held on July 27. Here, we present an overview of the final tournament and the overall results from this year's competitions.

Record-Breaking Participation

This year, the championship featured 1,356 participants, an impressive increase from 1,038 last year, highlighting the growing interest in board games among the Japanese populace. The championship was organized in seven regions: Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The final event, held in Omotesando, saw remarkable attendance.

A First-Time Experience

Encouragingly, 51% of the competitors were participating in the championship for the very first time. This statistic mirrors last year's initial participation rate of 49% and speaks volumes about the expanding interest in the board game, especially among beginners who have started playing within the last couple of years. Factors contributing to this surge include accessibility through smartphone apps and online platforms like BGA, showcasing the evolving landscape of the board gaming market.

Historic Kanto Gathering

The Kanto region tournament achieved a landmark turnout, gathering 622 players, laying claim to the title of the largest single board game event in Japan's history. This achievement not only underlines Catan's popularity but also signifies the community's enthusiasm for engaging with fellow players.

Reasons for Participation

Participants hailing from diverse age groups and backgrounds shared their motivations for joining the championship:

• - 57% wanted to test their skills
• - 45% participated because of their love for Catan
• - 44% wished to play with different people rather than their usual gaming circle.

These insights suggest that the Catan Championship serves as a platform for fostering connections among players.

High Satisfaction Levels

Following the conclusion of the event, a post-event survey revealed an 89.5% satisfaction rate, slightly up from 89.1% the previous year. Encouraged by this positive feedback, organizers plan to introduce an additional venue next year to accommodate the growing interest.

The Grand Final of 2025

The final tournament took place on July 27, 2025, from 9 AM to 7 PM, where the top 44 players from various regions faced off in four rounds of competition. The final showdown took place among the top four competitors. The champion of this tournament will advance to represent Japan in the Catan World Championship in the United States next year.

For the first time in history, the championship was live-streamed, drawing over 200 viewers online and generating significant excitement.

Champion: Nagamori

The tournament concluded with Nagamori emerging as the champion, marking their first victory after reaching the final four times previously. With experience competing internationally, expectations are high for their performance in the upcoming world championship. In addition, it was noteworthy that out of the 44 participants in the final, seven competitors were first-timers, a trend indicating a promising influx of new players. Furthermore, more than half of the finalists, 27 players, were making their inaugural appearance in the championship final, reinforcing that the vibrancy of new talent continues to thrive.

For more information regarding the tournament and its results, please visit Catan Championship 2025.

Conclusion

The 2025 Catan Japan Championship has proven to be not just a competitive gathering, but a testament to the community spirit that Catan evokes. With participation soaring and new players emerging, the future looks incredibly bright for board gaming in Japan.

Press Contact:

• - GP Inc. Public Relations: Yonekawa, Wada
• - Email: [email protected]
• - Phone: 03-6273-9245