Japanese Game Preservation Society Faces Closure Due to Financial Crisis

Image via Time Extension

The Japanese Game Preservation Society might shut down soon because it doesn't have enough money to keep running. This important organization has saved thousands of old Japanese video games and gaming magazines that could be lost forever if the group closes.

"Currently, in our bank account, we have £2100 (around $2800). It's not even enough to pay the rent for one month," explains Joseph Redon, who leads the Japanese Game Preservation Society.

According to a detailed report from Time Extension, the organization only has enough money to stay open until September 2025.

What Does the Society Do?

Since 2011, the Society has worked to save Japan's gaming history before it disappears. They have preserved over 7,500 games, including many on floppy disks that are already lasting longer than they were designed to. Between July 2024 and February 2025 alone, they digitized more than 2,000 floppy disks.

The Society has also built an impressive collection of gaming magazines, books, and has helped preserve Japanese mobile games. Some famous game creators support their work, including Tomohiro Nishikado (who made Space Invaders), Yuzo Koshiro (composer for Streets of Rage), and other legendary figures in gaming.

Money Problems

While the Society does get some money from the Japanese government, those funds can only be used to pay employee salaries. The government money can't pay for rent, electricity, equipment, or the actual games they're trying to save.

Right now, the organization is losing between £260 and £420 every month. Redon himself has been covering 25% of the rent with his own money from his day job.

"What we really need is to bring in at least £750 every month. It's not that much if it's 400 people giving £2 a month," says Redon. "Some people might give more, so we need 300 people to become supporters so that we can stay afloat."

Legal Restrictions

As a Japanese organization, the Society must follow strict Japanese laws about copyright. Unlike similar groups in other countries, they cannot share game ROMs or certain materials publicly, even though they've preserved them. This has led to criticism from some people online who don't understand the legal situation in Japan.

If the Society were to share protected materials, they could face serious legal consequences, including being shut down immediately.

What They Need

Redon emphasizes that the Society doesn't need millions of dollars - just enough monthly supporters to cover their basic expenses. "We do not need a million. It's not that much money we need," he says.

Beyond money, they also desperately need volunteers who can help with communication. "We need not just money; we are also looking for people to help us communicate," Redon explains. "We need people within the organisation, volunteers, to help us set up crowdfunding, write newsletters, and do video streaming."

If the Society closes, it would be a major loss for gaming history. As Redon points out, "I don't think there is a single organisation in the world that has digitised as many floppy disks and covers as the GPS. Our collection contains games and documents not available anywhere else."

The Society continues to work on changing Japanese laws around preservation while racing against time to save as many games as possible before the funding runs out completely.