http://www.digra2007.jp/index.html

DiGRA - Digital Games Research Association
International Conference

Date: September 24.(Mon.) - September 28. (Fri.)
Venue: The University of Tokyo, Hongo campus 3-1, 7-chome Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
Phone: +81-3-5841-2111 (main switchboard number)
Official language: English (and translation Japanese into English in some cases )

Motto:
"Games are everywhere. On subways, we see people playing Tetris with cell-phones. On the street and in restaurants, kids play with GameBoys and other portable devices. At home, we gather around the console or collaborate with a family member to take out a monster in a multiplayer game. In our offices, we spend stolen moments playing PC games. Our elderly are whiling away free hours playing online games. Games are everywhere, and becoming more deeply embedded in the fabric of our everyday lives.
[...]
We, therefore, need to unite. We need to mobilize all those who can provide any insights about digital games, from academia to industry, across a wide range of disciplines and expertise. In particular, we need to gather voices from around the world to better reflect the wide range of experiences and perspectives that games solicit. Tokyo is a very appropriate city for game researchers from around the world to meet, and an excellent place for game studies scholars to talk with practitioners from game industry. We propose that this conference be an opportunity to act as a bridge between West and East, Industry and Academia, the result being a greater holistic understanding of games, their impacts, and potential in our world."