League of Legends‘ Japanese server has experienced explosive growth since 2022. Community reports indicate the ranked player base has roughly tripled over the past three years. The surge follows a wave of popular streamers and VTubers embracing the game.
The transformation began with a late-night gaming session in spring 2022. Streamer k4sen and friends decided to try League at three AM. What started as casual fun turned into a movement. Soon, major Japanese content creators were streaming League regularly to tens of thousands of viewers.
k4sen didn’t stop at streaming. He organized “The k4sen” tournament series, bringing together Japan’s biggest gaming personalities for showmatches. These events have run 15 times since 2022. The main broadcasts regularly pull over 100,000 concurrent viewers, not counting co-streams.
Other major creators jumped on board. Shaka from ZETA DIVISION generated viral clips that reached millions. Kuzuha, one of the world’s most-watched VTubers, added League to his regular rotation. The game suddenly had star power in a market traditionally dominated by console titles.
Riot Games Japan recognized the opportunity. They partnered with k4sen to create “LoL The k4sen” (LTK), official arena events featuring live audiences and celebrity guests. These spectacles brought League into mainstream Japanese gaming culture.
The growth shows in matchmaking. Players report faster queue times at lower ranks, though high-tier players still face long waits. More Japanese-language streams appear daily. Esports cafés now feature League prominently alongside Valorant.
Japan’s League scene faced unique challenges. The server launched in 2016 to lukewarm reception. PC gaming lagged behind consoles. Before the Japan server existed, pro players practiced on North American servers with high ping.
The great migration from battle royales
The timing aligned perfectly. Valorant players explored other Riot titles. Apex Legends‘ Japanese community fragmented. League offered a fresh competitive experience. The Crazy Raccoon Cup, famous for Apex tournaments, even hosted a League edition.
This ranked boom doesn’t guarantee immediate international success for Japanese teams. Building competitive depth takes time. But a larger player base creates more opportunities for talent to emerge. The LJL (Japan’s professional league) now draws from a much deeper pool.
