Konami is raising starting salaries in Japan by nearly 30%, marking a fifth increase in recent years

Konami has announced that it will significantly raise starting salaries for new employees in Japan from March 2027, marking the fifth consecutive fiscal year in which the company has increased base pay for its domestic workforce.

The details:

• Konami confirmed the increase in a new public announcement, stating that the initial monthly base salary for fresh graduates joining its teams in Japan will rise from 240,000 JPY to 310,000 JPY, an increase of roughly 70,000 JPY, or about 29% compared to February 2023 levels.
• In addition to the boost in salary for new entry-level hires, Konami will introduce a uniform monthly base salary increase of 5,000 JPY for all existing employees.
• The new pay structure is set to go into effect in March 2027 and will apply to regular employees at Konami's Japanese group companies, with the exception of some subsidiaries and select roles.
• Konami says the decision is part of a long-term strategy to “secure diverse and talented human resources” while other companies lay off employees due to declining revenue and increasing costs. The move has been described as an “investment in human capital" and aims to help it acquire top talent in the gaming industry.
• The company has highlighted that this is the fifth consecutive fiscal year in which it has raised base salaries for domestic employees, following previous increases in starting pay for new graduates in 2025 and 2026.