
official name
「BitSummit the 13th Summer of Yokai」
Event Overview
The Japan Independent Games Association (JIGA) is pleased to announce the upcoming BitSummit, Japan’s largest indie game festival, titled “BitSummit the 13th Summer of Yokai,” which will be held at the Kyoto Miyakomesse from Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20, 2025.
↓↓↓Entry for “BitSummit the 13th Summer of Yokai” is now open! ↓↓↓
Entry Application System: https://bs-entry-system.com/ (https://bs-entry-system.com/)
Exhibit fees
[Entry Fee]: ¥5,500 (tax included) per title
[Entry Deadline]: Until 4:00 PM on Friday, February 28
The deadline has been extended with a late entry period until 4:00 PM on Friday, March 7, 2025.
Please note that the entry fee is a screening fee for each submitted title.
The entry fee is non-refundable regardless of the screening result.
[Exhibition Fee]: ¥33,000 (tax included) per booth
The exhibition fee applies only if your entry passes the screening process.
Student Discount for Exhibition Fee!
BitSummit the 13th Summer of Yokai offers student discounts on exhibition fees.
Eligible for student discounts:
University / Graduate school / Vocational school / Junior college students
Students in high school or below
The representative listed at the time of entry must be a student in one of the above categories.
[Student Discounted Exhibition Fee]: ¥11,000 (tax included) per booth
After submitting your entry, we will confirm your intention to exhibit when notifying you of the screening result.
If you wish to apply for the student discount, please inform us at that time. You will need to provide proof, such as a photo of your student ID.
Exhibitors under 18 years old must submit a consent form signed by a guardian.
The entry fee remains unchanged.
Exhibition fees (booth costs) must be paid only after your participation is confirmed.
Payment Methods & Transactions
Payments should be made to the Japan Independent Games Association (JIGA).
Available payment methods include credit card (Stripe), PayPal, and bank transfer.
[PayPal / Stripe]
PayPal and Stripe payments can be completed directly through the entry application system.
[Bank Transfer] (Available only for domestic transfers within Japan)
For bank transfers, please use the following account:
Branch: Semba Chuo Branch
Account Type: Ordinary Account
Account Number: 0055450
Account Name: Japan Independent Games Association (一般社団法人 日本インディペンデント・ゲーム協会)
*Please note that you are responsible for any transfer fees.*
Important Notes:
When making a bank transfer, please ensure that the sender’s name matches the name used during entry (either your personal name or company name).
The exhibition fee (booth fee) should only be paid after your participation has been confirmed.
If paying by bank transfer, please notify us at contact@bitsummit.org after completing the transfer so we can send you a confirmation code.
Entry and Booth Exhibition Guidelines
Only titles that have passed the screening process after entry are allowed to be exhibited at BitSummit.
Titles that have not been entered or have failed the screening process cannot be exhibited.
Only one title may be entered per application. Regardless of whether you are an individual or a group, if you wish to enter multiple titles, you must submit a separate application for each title.
An entry fee of ¥5,500 (tax included) will be charged per title.
For each title that passes the screening, one booth may be provided.
However, if you wish to exhibit multiple titles as a group within a single booth, please mention this request in the “Remarks” section of the entry form in advance.
Eligible Titles for Exhibition
Only titles that are originally planned and developed by the applicant are eligible for exhibition.
The development team should generally consist of around 50 members or fewer.
Titles that may infringe on third-party rights may be refused exhibition.
The developer’s annual game-related revenue must be under ¥25 million.
If your annual revenue exceeds ¥25 million, or if your title is funded by a publisher, please contact us in advance at contact@bitsummit.org.
Applications from entities located in countries or regions under a Level 3 travel advisory or higher (as designated by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs) may be rejected.
(https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp) (https://entry.hco.mhlw.go.jp)
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in making responsible decisions.
But most importantly, what we value above all is your Indie Spirit!
Eligible Titles for Exhibition
Only titles that are originally planned and developed by the applicant are eligible for exhibition.
For derivative (fan-made) works, please ensure that you first obtain permission from the original rights holder regarding exhibition eligibility.
The BitSummit organizers will respect the wishes of IP holders.
The organizers will not contact IP holders on your behalf, nor will they assume any responsibility regarding such matters.
Titles must also comply with the CESA Ethics Code and the CERO Ethics Code, and must not fall under any of the following categories:
- Contains expressions that violate or are likely to violate CERO’s “Prohibited Expressions” (Annex 3)
- Has received a “Z” rating from CERO, or contains content that may be categorized as “Z
- Has been released overseas and received a “17+” (Mature) rating from an international rating organization such as ESRB
- Is planned to be released overseas and may receive a “17+” (Mature) rating from an international rating organization such as ESRB
Booth Specifications
The following is the standard specification for a single booth unit.
Please note that these are subject to change without notice.
- 1 table (180cm x 45cm)
- 2 chairs (Please contact us separately for additional chairs)
- 1 power outlet with 800W capacity (2 sockets)
- To accommodate as many developers as possible, in the case of high demand, one table may be shared between two groups. We kindly ask for your understanding.
However, sharing your booth space with a non-registered friend or acquaintance is strictly prohibited.
If you wish to share your space, you must consult with us in advance.
- Internet access will not be provided for individual booths.
- There is no parking lot available for loading/unloading at the venue.
Please use public transportation or other means.
- No wall mounting or external projections beyond the assigned booth area are permitted.
Additionally, any actions that may cause disruption to neighboring booths are strictly prohibited.
- Please be considerate, such as by using headphones for audio demonstrations.
- All necessary equipment such as PCs, displays, and promotional materials must be prepared by the exhibitor.
A rental equipment service is currently under consideration.
Details will be announced at a later date. More specific booth regulations and setup instructions will be provided in the Exhibitor Manual.
Merchandise Sales at the Venue
Sales of merchandise within the provided booth space (e.g., on your table) are permitted at the responsibility of the exhibitor.
-However, price tags must be clearly displayed.-
The BitSummit organizers will not be held responsible for any loss, theft, or damage to goods.
Booth Placement Within the Venue
Exhibitors cannot choose their booth location within the venue.
Booth placement will be determined according to the organizer’s overall operational plans, including the assignment of volunteer staff on the day of the event.
Additionally, booth swaps or exchanges between exhibitors are strictly prohibited.
Publisher Participation
BitSummit is positioned primarily as an event for developers, so we kindly ask that entries be submitted directly by the developers themselves.
If you have any specific inquiries or feedback regarding this matter, please feel free to contact the organizers directly.
Other Information
There may be attendees from overseas on the event days.
While localization of your game is not mandatory, we highly recommend preparing English-translated materials for things like control panels and instructions.
BitSummit is a Japanese event with a strong focus on supporting domestic creators, but we welcome participants from around the world. For more details, please refer to the English version of our website.
The 2025 edition of BitSummit is scheduled to run for three days: one Business Day and two Public Days.
Exhibitors are generally expected to participate for all three days.
If it is absolutely not possible for you to attend all three days, please contact us in advance to discuss your situation.
Entry Deadline
The regular entry deadline is Friday, February 28, 2025, at 4:00 PM (JST).
A late entry period has been established, extending the deadline to Friday, March 7, 2025, at 4:00 PM (JST).
In the case of a large number of entries, applications will be screened based on their content.
Depending on the application status, the late entry period may be applied.
We may contact you for additional information or clarification regarding your entry.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly by email.
Please note that we will not respond to inquiries regarding the screening results until the official announcement.
Post-Entry Process
Screening results will be announced via email around mid to late May 2025.
After receiving the result, please reply within approximately one week to confirm your participation.
If a team that has passed the screening declines to participate or fails to confirm participation by the deadline, the opportunity may be offered to the next team on the waiting list. Please be aware of this policy.
Teams who confirm their participation will receive information regarding the exhibition fee of ¥33,000 (tax included), including payment instructions and deadlines.
Infection Prevention Measures
We are working with professional service providers to implement thorough infection prevention protocols, ensuring a safe and reassuring environment for all participants.
Contact Information
contact@bitsummit.org
Venue
Kyoto International Exhibition Hall “Miyakomesse”
9-1, Seishoji-cho, Okazaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8343, Japan
(Located east of the intersection of Nijo Street and Higashioji Street)