Japan Game Awards (日本ゲーム大賞, nihon gemu taisho) is the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's awards ceremony for the Japanese video game industry created in 1996 as CESA Awards (Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association).
In 2006, the METI launched a five-year plan called "Game Industry Strategy" to promote Japan's domestic industry against increasing foreign developers competition, especially from North America and Europe, as well as South Korea in terms of online gaming.
The "Games of the Year Division" awards existing released works.
The "Future Division" awards non-released works.
The three-category "Amateur Division" awards original works that have not been commercially marketed regardless of whether the entrant is a juridical entity, group or individual.
The ceremony changed its name from launch's "CESA Awards" (CESA大賞, CESA taisho) and "CESA Game Awards" to the actual "Japan Game Awards" (日本ゲーム大賞).
The Japanese financial year runs from April 1 to March 31, it applies to all games that were released onto the Japanese market in this period.
The following are the winners of the Grand Award.
Period: January 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002
Period: April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003
Period: April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2004
Period: April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005
Period: April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2006
Period: April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007
Period: April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008
Period: April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009
Period: April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010
Period: April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011