KOJI FUJIWARA
PRESIDENT & CEO
BANDAI NAMCO HOLDINGS USA
WHY: OC-based Bandai Namco created a partnership with the Los Angeles Angels in 2022, introducing an in-game Pac-Man race during Angel home games.
IN THE NEWS: Bandai Namco introduced a Pac-Man arcade section at the Big A, allowing OC baseball fans to play games of the Japanese company’s most famous brand during the baseball season.
NOTABLE: The arcade section also includes a vending area where fans can buy and collect Gashapon, or vending machine-dispensed capsule toys manufactured by Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc. Gashapon, a Bandai trademark, is a popular activity in Japan.
QUOTABLE: “We like to consider how can we try to connect to local people. Our company is located in Irvine, so that’s why we like to put the Bandai Namco brand in Angel Stadium. In the United States, the popularity of Bandai Namco brand is still very small, so that’s why we have to expand our awareness.”
