Microsoft is well aware that they have yet to achieve the level of popularity earned in North America for the Xbox brand name in Japan, so today they are hoping to inspire a new level of confidence for their next-generation Xbox 360 console.  At the Xbox 2005 Summit in Tokyo, Microsoft has revealed that 38 (some reports claim 50) of Japan's most familiar publishers will support their new 360.

Though a lineup of 45 games from these publishers was promised, few specifics regarding possible titles are known, and it does not appear likely that many of these mystery titles will actually be available in time for the Japanese 360 launch.  Regardless, Microsoft's chairman Bill Gates and Xbox marketing VP Peter Moore outlined how important success in the Japanese market will be for the Xbox this time around:

"'I've always said that Japan is a vitally important market for the Xbox platform,' Peter Moore, Microsoft's vice president in charge of Xbox marketing, said at an event to introduce upcoming games for the console.

'I know that the success in this country is the ultimate tribute to the compelling power of our new platform,' he said.

'With this next generation, Japan is right at the center of the Xbox 360 universe,' Microsoft's Moore said. 'This time the rest of the world is starting to realize that the Xbox 360 is a real contender right here in Japan.'"

To further their efforts in being more attractive to the industry both in North America and abroad, the company explains that game publishers in general can expect a larger portion of proceeds from actual game sales.  Of course, Microsoft is planning on securing support from game developers as well.

On the topic of the hardware itself, Microsoft did not have definite answers when pressed on whether they would consider an HD-DVD optical drive for a future 360 revision, despite calls from developers like Team Ninja for superior media format support.

As you can see, Microsoft is hoping to have as many 360 game titles as possible available for both domestic and international markets, before Sony Computer Entertainment releases their juggurnaut PlayStation 3.

Microsoft still plans on releasing the 360 in North America first, before the end of November if things go as planned.  Once that is out of the way, the Japanese and European launches should follow about a month and a half later, by Christmas at the very latest.  Since Japanese consumer interest in the 360 is still low at this point based on reports, we'll have to wait and see whether today's announcements at the summit will pay off for Microsoft.