15-Year-Old Achieves Remarkable Feat, Youngest Winner of “e-Construction Machine🄬 Challenge”

A student from KONAMI e-Sports Academy, operated by Konami Digital Entertainment, has won the “e-Construction Machine🄬 Challenge at Osaka-Kansai Expo” held in Japan. The winner, 15-year-old high school freshman Riku Yamamoto, has become the youngest champion in the event’s history. During this time trial event, Mr. Yamamoto impressively operated heavy machinery located in Chiba Prefecture from the EXPO Hall Shine Hat in Osaka Prefecture, covering a distance of 450 kilometers.

Overview and Purpose of the e-Construction Machine🄬 Challenge

This unique competition is organized by the Transportation Digital Business Council (TDBC) working group for the construction industry. The goal is to address the labor shortage in the construction industry and implement remote operation of construction machinery for swift disaster response. The event aims to provide young people with new experiences through e-sports and explore their talents beyond the gaming industry.

What is KONAMI e-Sports Academy?

KONAMI e-Sports Academy offers a three-year educational program under the e-Sports course at Daiichi Gakuin High School, providing knowledge and skills related to e-sports. Here, students are given diverse career paths, including professional gamers, streamers, and game commentators, while also acquiring a wide range of skills applicable beyond gaming. The use of e-sports in education is gaining international recognition.

Comments from School Officials

Principal Naruki Umemura commented, “This victory is a great encouragement and a testament that our education has borne fruit, even outside the e-sports industry.” The victorious Mr. Yamamoto expressed, “The support from my family has been a great strength. I aim for an even better performance next time,” indicating his future ambitions. Additionally, other participating players reported that they learned a great deal from the selection process and their experiences in the tournament.

Future Outlook and Reflections

KONAMI e-Sports Academy is committed to continuing such new initiatives and expanding opportunities for its players to excel. E-sports is evolving into a platform that cultivates talents capable of thriving in diverse fields, not just quick finger movements. The “e-Construction Machine🄬 Challenge” stands as a symbolic event that further expands the potential of e-sports, and we look forward to its future developments.

Source: PR TIMES