Investments in Japan's huge video game industry may be appealing to Saudi Arabia's crown prince. Photo: Richard A. Brooks / AFP
Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund holds around eight percent stake in Nintendo, and the country is planning a theme park based on Japan's"Dragon Ball" manga franchise in a new"entertainment city" outside Riyadh. Prince Mohammed, 38, known by his initials MBS, will meet Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and the emperor on his first visit to Japan since 2019.
As well as Nintendo, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund also reportedly holds stakes in Japanese"Street Fighter" maker Capcom, and US giants Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard.Serkan Toto of Tokyo-based firm Kantan Games said there was ample potential for Prince Mohammed to meet gaming executives in Japan., there are thousands of game companies here, and Saudi Arabia already has experience investing and... outright acquiring Japanese game companies," he said.