Private company

Jaleco

Logo: Jaleco, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

Video game publisher

Jaleco Ltd. (株式会社ジャレコ, Kabushiki Kaisha Jareko) was a corporate brand name that was used by two previously connected video game developers and publishers based in Japan. The original Jaleco company was founded in 1974 as Japan Leisure Company, founded by Yoshiaki Kanazawa, before being renamed to simply Jaleco in the early 1980s. This company was later acquired in 2000 by Hong Kong company PCCW, who rebranded it as its Japanese game division, PCCW Japan, before reverting it to Jaleco in 2002.2 It is part of Game Yarou.1 It ceased to exist in 2014.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 20, 2026.

Overview

Jul 3, 2006Founded1

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Jaleco Ltd. (株式会社ジャレコ, Kabushiki Kaisha Jareko) was a corporate brand name that was used by two previously connected video game developers and publishers based in Japan. The original Jaleco company was founded in 1974 as Japan Leisure Company, founded by Yoshiaki Kanazawa, before being renamed to simply Jaleco in the early 1980s. This company was later acquired in 2000 by Hong Kong company PCCW, who rebranded it as its Japanese game division, PCCW Japan, before reverting it to Jaleco in 2002. In 2006, Jaleco became independent from PCCW and renamed to Jaleco Holding, having its video game operations spun off into a new company, also called Jaleco. This new spin-off company was sold to mobile developer Game Yarou in 2009, with Jaleco Holding renaming itself to Encom Holdings shortly after.2

Corporate structure

Jaleco sits at the top of its group. 2 entities, 2 countries on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • Jaleco Tokyo
    • Jaleco USA Subsidiary · United States

Built from subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0); major holders from Schedules 13D and 13G. Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

Jaleco was founded by Japanese businessman Yoshiaki Kanazawa on October 3, 1974. They were originally known as the Japan Leisure Co., Ltd. (株式会社ジャパンレジャー, Kabushiki-gaisha Japan Rejā), producing equipment for both amusement parks and arcade centers across Japan. The company was originally based out of Setagaya-ku, Tokyo.

Japan Leisure began production of arcade video games by 1982, and changed its corporate name to Jaleco, taking the first two letters of each word of "Japan Leisure Co.", in March 1983. Jaleco began production of home console video games for the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan. Towards the mid-1980s, Jaleco would begin production of equipment for aquarium tanks, which were released under its JAQNO brand name. A North American office, Jaleco USA, operated in Northbrook, Illinois. This division sometimes published other third-party video games for both the NES and SNES consoles, notably Maniac Mansion and R-Type III, alongside distribution of Jaleco video games in the United States.

By 2000, Jaleco was struggling financially, being unable to produce a hit video game in several years. To keep the company afloat, Jaleco was acquired by Hong Kong-based company PCCW in November 2000, where it became the Japanese division of the company, renamed to PCCW Japan. Heavy company restructuring was performing, with Jaleco's arcade division shuttering in April 2001 while retaining its home console video game division. In April 2001, PCCW Japan purchased the VR-1 Group, the holder of North American MMO developer VR-1 Entertainment, in order to have its operations expand globally. In October 2002, PCCW Japan merged Jaleco USA and VR-1 Entertainment into a new company, Jaleco Entertainment, relocating to Buffalo, New York. PCCW Japan was renamed back to Jaleco in 2004. They would continue to operate for several years as a subsidiary of PCCW, producing video games for home consoles and Japanese mobile phones, alongside soundtrack albums and applications for web browsers.

In August 2005, PCCW sold off Jaleco to Sandringham Fund SPC, alongside the subsidiary company Hyperlink Investments Group. By July 2006, the company was renamed to Jaleco Holding and became a holding company. The video game operations were then spun off into a new company known as Jaleco, which would become a subsidiary of Jaleco Holding. The corporate restructure was done to reflect the company's diversified portfolio which no longer limited to video games and included activities such as real estate and financial services. In October 2007, Hyperlink Investments Group sold its stock in Jaleco Holding to Game Yarou, a Japanese mobile phone developer, and two South Korean corporations, STIC Pioneer Fund and A2i. Jaleco Holdings dissolved two subsidiary companies, FFBC Investment and J Consulting, in early 2008. Jaleco's North American division, Jaleco Entertainment, closed its doors later that year.

In January 2009, Jaleco Holding sold Jaleco to Game Yarou for ¥1 (US$0.01), but Game Yarou also assumed ¥700,000,000 ($7.736 million) of Jaleco Holding's ¥16,000,000,000 ($17.68 million) debt. A spokesperson for Jaleco Holding cited "increasing competition in recent years in the video game market" as the reason for the company's departure from the industry. Jaleco Holding renamed itself to Encom Holdings the same year in April, focusing on real estate and finance business in Japan and no longer being involved with video games. Encom Holdings dissolved on May 13, 2013, due to poor reputation and loss of income.

Under ownership of Game Yarou, Jaleco produced video games for Japanese mobile phones and web browsers, alongside licensing many of its older video games to third-party developers for use in other projects. One of the game titles that was released by Jaleco under this ownership was Ougon no Kizuna for the Wii, which was released in May 2009.

By 2012, Game Yarou was in financial crisis due to high debt and poor sales of its mobile titles – it was officially declared bankrupt by the Tokyo District Court on May 21, 2014. Jaleco would soon vanish from the video game industry, with its video games being acquired later that year by Japanese company City Connection. The company continues to use Jaleco video games for a number of projects, alongside licensing them out to other developers for use in other products.

From Wikipedia’s article on Jaleco, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Products and brands

  • video game

Listed on Wikidata.1

Casino

All games in this section are Japan-exclusive.

Super NES/Super Famicom

Big Run: The Supreme 4WD Challenge: 13e Rallye (1991, Japan-exclusive)

Super Bases Loaded (1991, developed by Tose)

Earth Defense Force (1991)

Read the full text

Rival Turf! (1992)

Goal! (1992, developed by TOSE)

Super Bases Loaded 2 (1992, developed by Tose)

Super Professional Baseball II (1992, Japan-exclusive, developed by Tose)

King Arthur's World (1992, developed by Argonaut Games)

Brawl Brothers (1992)

Pro Sport Hockey (1993, developed by Tose)

Tuff E Nuff (1993)

Operation Logic Bomb: The Ultimate Search & Destroy (1993)

Bishoujo Janshi Suchie-Pai (1993, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game, developed by K.K. DCE)

Utopia: The Creation of a Nation (1993, North American distribution only, developed by Gremlin Interactive)

Super Goal! 2 (1993, developed by Tose)

The Peace Keepers (1993)

Kingyo Chuuihou! Tobidase! Game Gakuen (1994, Japan-exclusive)

Jurassic Park (1994, Japanese distribution only, developed by Ocean Software)

Super Ninja-kun (1994, Japan-exclusive)

HammerLock Wrestling (1994)

R-Type III (1994, North American distribution only, developed by Irem)

The Ignition Factor (1994)

Takeda Nobuhiro no Super League Soccer (1994, Japan-exclusive, developed by Tose)

JWP Joshi Pro Wrestling: Pure Wrestle Queens (1994, Japan-exclusive)

Super Bases Loaded 3: License to Steal (1994, developed by Tose)

Sterling Sharpe: End 2 End (1995, North America-exclusive, developed by Tose)

GameCube

Super Bubble Pop (2003, North America-exclusive, developed by Runecraft)

Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde (2003)

Room Zoom: Race for Impact (2005, North America-exclusive, developed by Blade Interactive)

World Championship Pool 2004 (2005, Europe-exclusive, developed by Blade Interactive)

Wii

Zenkoku Dekotora Matsuri (2008, Japan-exclusive, developed by Suzak)

Ougon no Kizuna (2009, Japan-exclusive, developed by TownFactory)

Game Boy

Hero Shuugou!! Pinball Party (1990, Japan-exclusive)

Bases Loaded for Game Boy (1990, developed by Tose)

Maru's Mission (1990, developed by Tose)

The Rescue of Princess Blobette (1990, Japanese distribution only, developed by Imagineering)

Battle Unit Zeoth (1990)

In Your Face (1990, North America-exclusive)

Fortified Zone (1991)

Vanishing Racer (1991, Japan-exclusive)

Q*bert for Game Boy (1992, developed by Realtime Associates)

Ikari no Yousai 2 (1992, Japan-exclusive)

WordZap (1992, North America-exclusive, developed by Realtime Associates)

Rampart (1992, developed by C-Lab)

Avenging Spirit (1992)

Dirty Racing (1993, Japan-exclusive, developed by Gremlin Interactive)

Rod Land (1993, developed by Eurocom)

Goal! (1993, developed by Tose)

Soldam (1993, Japan-exclusive)

Tetris Plus (1996, Japanese distribution only)

The Fidgetts (1997, North American distribution only, developed by Game Over Productions)

Dr. Franken II (1997, North America-exclusive, developed by MotiveTime)

Hayaoshi Quiz Ouza Ketteisen: The King of Quiz (1998, Japan-exclusive quiz game)

Game Boy Color

Get Mushi Club: Minna no Konchuu Daizukan (1999, Japan-exclusive)

Pocket Bowling (1999, North American distribution only, developed by Athena)

Game Boy Advance

Kawaii Pet Shop Monogatari 3 (2002, Japan-exclusive, released as PCCW Japan)

Sea Trader: Rise of Taipan (2002, North America-exclusive)

Scan Hunter: Sen Nen Kaiuo wo Oe! (2002, Japan-exclusive, released as PCCW Japan, developed by DA1)

Darius R (2002, Japan-exclusive, released as PCCW Japan, developed by RideonJapan)

Toukon Heat (2002, Japan-exclusive, released as PCCW Japan)

Jazz Jackrabbit (2002, developed by Game Titan)

Karnaaj Rally (2002, developed by Paragon 5)

Super Bubble Pop (2003, North America-exclusive, developed by Runecraft)

JaJa-Kun Jr. Denshouki (2004, Japan-exclusive)

Moero!! Jaleco Collection (2004, Japan-exclusive)

Nintendo DS

Brain Buster Puzzle Pak (2006, Japanese distribution only, developed by Suzak)

Chuukana Janshi Tenhoo Painyan Remix (2006, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Puchi Puchi Virus (2007, released in North America by NIS America)

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai III Remix (2007, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Nep League DS (2007, Japan-exclusive)

Denjirou Sensei no Fushigi na Jikkenshitsu (2008, Japan-exclusive)

Chou!! Nep League DS (2008, Japan-exclusive)

Imasugu Tsukaeru Mamechishiki: Quiz Zatsugaku-Ou DS (2010, Japan-exclusive quiz game)

WiZmans World (2010, Japan-exclusive RPG)

PlayStation

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Limited (1995, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Bases Loaded '96: Double Header (1995)

Slam Dragon (1996, Japan-exclusive)

Tetris Plus (1996)

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai II Limited (1996, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Turf Wind '96: Take Yutaka Kyousouba Ikusei Game (1996, Japan-exclusive, developed by Tose)

Tokyo Highway Battle (1996, North American & European distribution only, developed by Genki)

Ninja JaJaMaru-kun: Onigiri Ninpouchou (1997, Japan-exclusive, developed by Infinity)

BRAHMA Force: The Assault on Beltlogger 9 (1997, North American & European distribution only, developed by Genki)

Fantastep (1997, Japan-exclusive)

Cheesy (1997, Japanese distribution only, developed by CTA Developments)

Mini-Yonku Bakusou Kyoudai: Let's & Go!!: WGP Hyper Heat (1997, Japan-exclusive, developed by C-Lab)

Speed Racer (1998, North American distribution only, developed by Graphic Research)

GunBare! Game Tengoku 2: The Game Paradise 2 (1998, Japan-exclusive)

Suchie-Pai Adventure Doki Doki Nightmare (1998, Japan-exclusive erotic game)

T: Kara Hajimaru Monogatari (1998, Japan-exclusive)

Bakusou Kyoudai Let's & Go!! Eternal Wings (1998, Japan-exclusive)

Dragonseeds (1998)

Nectaris: Military Madness (1998, North American distribution only, developed by Matrix Software)

Punky Skunk (1998, North American distribution only, developed by Ukiyotei)

Battle Konchuuden (1999, Japan-exclusive)

Irritating Stick (1999, North American distribution only, developed by Saurus)

Option Tuning Car Battle 2 (1999, Japan-exclusive, developed by MTO)

K-1 Revenge (1999, North American distribution only, developed by Daft)

Juggernaut (1999, North American distribution only, developed by Will)

Vampire Hunter D (1999, North American distribution only, developed by Victor Interactive Software)

Shiibas 1-2-3 Destiny! (2000, Japan-exclusive)

K-1 Grand Prix (2000, North American distribution only, developed by Daft)

Vanark (2000, North American distribution only, developed by Bit Town)

Builder's Block (2000, North American distribution only, developed by Taito)

Super Bubble Pop (2002, North America-exclusive, developed by Runecraft)

Jaleco Collection Vol. 1 (2003, Japan-exclusive, released as PCCW Japan)

PlayStation 2

Stepping Selection (2000, Japan-exclusive)

Rock'n MegaStage (2000, Japan-exclusive)

Dream Audition (2000, Japan-exclusive)

Dream Audition 2 (2000, Japan-exclusive)

Super Micchan (2001, Japan-exclusive)

Dream Audition 3 (2001, Japan-exclusive)

Dream Audition Super Hit Disc 1 (2001, Japan-exclusive)

Dream Audition Super Hit Disc 2 (2001, Japan-exclusive)

Raging Blades (2002, released as PCCW Japan)

Hooligan: Kimi no Naka no Yuuki (2002, Japan-exclusive, released as PCCW Japan)

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance (2002, Japanese distribution only, released as PCCW Japan, developed by Snowblind Studios)

Toukon Inoki Michi: Puzzle de Daa! (2002, Japan-exclusive, released as PCCW Japan, developed by Matrix Software)

Idol Janshi R: Janguru Project (2002, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game, released as PCCW Japan)

Lowrider (2002)

Sweet Legacy (2002, Japan-exclusive, released as PCCW Japan, developed by Frontwing)

Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde (2003)

Otona no Gal Jan: Kimi ni Hane Man (2003, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game, released as PCCW Japan)

World Championship Pool 2004 (2004, North America-exclusive, developed by Blade Interactive)

Shin Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu Tenka Touitsu Choujou Kessen (2005, developed by Spike)

Room Zoom: Race for Impact (2005, Europe-exclusive, developed by Blade Interactive)

World Super Police (2005, developed by Suzak)

Otona no Gal Jan 2 (2005, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai IV (2007, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Xbox

NightCaster II: Equinox (2002)

Super Bubble Pop (2002)

Pulse Racer (2002, North America-exclusive)

Goblin Commander: Unleash the Horde (2003)

World Championship Pool 2004 (2003, developed by Blade Interactive)

Room Zoom: Race for Impact (2004, developed by Blade Interactive)

Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders (2005, Japanese distribution only, developed by Phantagram)

Sega Saturn

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special (1995, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Remix (1995, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Bases Loaded '96: Double Header (1995)

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai II (1996, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Tetris Plus (1996)

Turf Wind '96: Take Yutaka Kyousouba Ikusei Game (1996, Japan-exclusive)

Fantastep (1997, Japan-exclusive)

Game Tengoku: The Game Paradise! (1997, Japan-exclusive)

Ninja JaJaMaru-kun: Onigiri Ninpouchou Gold (1997, Japan-exclusive)

Suchie-Pai Adventure Doki Doki Nightmare (1998, Japan-exclusive erotic game)

GT24 (1998, Japan-exclusive port of Super GT 24h)

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Mecha Genteiban (1998, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Secret Album (1999, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Sega Dreamcast

Idol Janshi wo Tsukucchaou (1999, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Carrier (2000)

WonderSwan

Ganso JaJaMaru-kun (1999)

Moero!! Pro Yakyuu Rookies (2000, developed by Tose)

3DO

Idol Janshi Suchie-Pai Special (1995, Japan-exclusive strip mahjong game)

Mobile

Antonio Inoki vs Jaleco (アントニオ猪木VSジャレコ) (2004, Japan-exclusive, developed by Inoki International)

Jaleco Reversi Revengers (ジャレコリバーシ・リベンジャーズ) (2004, Japan-exclusive, developed by Inoki International)

Real Time Adventure -EOW- (リアルタイムアドベンチャー-EOW-) (2005, Japan-exclusive, developed by Inoki International)

Jaleco Super Tennis Heroine Cup (ジャレコスーパーテニス ヒロインカップ) (2007, Japan-exclusive)

Tenkuu no Kinki (天空の禁忌) (2007, Japan-exclusive)

Mahou ga Ochiru Hi (魔王が墜ちる日) (2007, Japan-exclusive)

Mahou ga Ochiru Hi 2 (魔王が墜ちる日II) (2007, Japan-exclusive)

Jumping Peng (ペンギンピコの大冒険) (2009, Japan-exclusive, developed by Mobileday)

Magic Block Limited Edition (マジックブロック) (2009, Japan-exclusive, developed by Mobileday)

Prototypes/cancelled games

Exerion (NES, 1985, cancelled North American release)

Block Buster (Arcade, 1987, also known as Bombs Away)

Vs. Great Tennis (Arcade, 1988)

Bashi Bazook: Morphoid Master (1988, cancelled North American release of Bio Senshi Dan: Increaser tono Tatakai)

Counter Force (Arcade, 1989)

R&T (Arcade, 1990, European prototype of Rod Land)

Super Dog Booby: Akachan Daibouken no Maki (Famicom, 1990, developed by Taito)

Taro's Quest (NES, 1990, cancelled North American release of JaJaMaru Ninpou Chou)

Gun Baron (Arcade, 1991)

Squashed (NES, 1991, cancelled North American release of Ninja JaJaMaru: Ginga Daisakusen)

War on Wheels (NES, 1991, developed by Sculptured Software)

Soldam (NES, 1992)

Super Strong Warriors (Arcade, 1993)

Kick for the Goal (Arcade, 1994, prototype version of World PK Soccer)

Super Circuit Red Zone (Arcade, 1995)

Crossroads (1999, PC, developed by VR-1)

Navy Force (2000, PS2)

Rock'n 4 (2000, Japan-exclusive rhythm game)

Carrier 2: The Next Mutation (2001, PS2)

Lost Continents (2003, PC, developed by VR-1)

World Championship Pool 2004 (2005, GameCube, North American release cancelled)

Ninja JaJaMaru-kun: Pen wa Ken Yorimo Kyoushidegozaru (2006, DS)

From Wikipedia’s article on Jaleco, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Subsidiaries and ownership

Subsidiaries

  • Jaleco USA

Former owners and parents

From Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. May 21, 2014Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. Jan 15, 2009Acquired Acquired by Game Yarou1
  3. Jul 3, 2006Founded Founded in Tokyo1
  4. Mar 7, 2006Acquired Acquired by Emcom Holdings1
  5. Aug 10, 2000Acquired Acquired by PCCW Limited1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4