< The 2014 All-Japan Research Team
| Masashi Morita |
| Okasan Securities Co. |
First-Place Appearances: 5 Total Appearances: 11 Analyst Debut: 2004 |
By repeating in first place, Masashi Morita of Okasan Securities Co. captures his fifth top finish since 2009. The 44-year-old analyst is “very consistent and passionate” about his sector, one money manager asserts. Other supporters laud Morita for providing what one backer dubs “data-packed reports” on the gaming industry. Covering 17 Japanese entertainment software names, with plans to add more this year, Morita is neutral on the group going forward. Given the extremely competitive environment, he notes, creativity will be the driver for these companies as gamers increasingly seek to deliver new thrills and challenges. Against this backdrop, his top pick is Tecmo Koei Holdings Co. The Kanagawa-based developer and publisher of interactive entertainment has several major game titles to its credit, including Dead Or Alive, Ninja Gaiden and Sangoku Musou. Moreover, “this firm succeeded in establishing the new franchise, Toukiden, in 2013,” says Morita. “Toukiden will be one of the leading Japanese software games in 2014.”
