Computer Entertainment Rating Organization

What Computer Entertainment Rating Organization does

Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) is a Tokyo-based Specified Nonprofit Corporation (NPO), certified by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government in November 2003, that operates Japan's de facto age-based rating system for computer and video games sold for household use. Established in June 2002 with the rating system going live on October 1, 2002, CERO assigns five-tier age classification marks (A: All Ages, B: 12+, C: 15+, D: 17+, Z: 18+ only) accompanied by content descriptor icons across categories such as sex, violence, antisocial behavior, and language/ideology. Reviews are conducted by panels of trained external raters recruited from the general public (aged 20s–60s, from diverse professions, with confidentiality obligations and no industry connections), not by automated systems; the core review product is the CERO Code of Ethics, a 27-category expression guideline that determines prohibited content and age classification thresholds.

CERO's core "products" are rating marks, content descriptor icons, a title-search database (cero.biz), provisional designations (CERO Regulations-Compatible Mark for trial versions, Rating Scheduled Mark for pre-release promotional materials), and an Educational/Database Mark for educational or utility software. Supporting materials include the CERO Leaflet and a Parent's Guide to Game Age Rating published in May 2026. The organization is governed by a board including a former Chief Justice of Japan's Supreme Court, university law professors, the President of CESA, and the Chairman of EIRIN (Film Classification and Rating Organization).

CERO's business model is membership-based: individuals and organizations that consent to its objectives enroll as members and pay membership fees. Over 200 game companies are members, including Capcom, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Ubisoft Japan, Konami Digital Entertainment, Epic Games Japan, Electronic Arts Japan, and Take-Two Interactive Japan. CERO also derives revenue from review fees charged to publishers submitting titles for classification. The organization publishes annual financial statements but does not disclose revenue figures. As a nonprofit monopoly regulator in Japan, CERO works with CESA on distribution-side self-regulation for Z-rated (18+) titles and has pursued investigations against publishers (Capcom, Hunex, Ubisoft) that misused rating marks or shipped unreviewed content.

Name

Computer Entertainment Rating Organization

Legal name

特定非営利活動法人コンピュータエンターテインメントレーティング機構

Website

https://cero.gr.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CERO is a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization that operates Japan's age-based video game rating system, assigning A/B/C/D/Z classification marks and content descriptors to titles published for the Japanese market by 200+ member publishers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Game Rating Services

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Publishing Services Providers (Ratings, Compliance, Certification, Release Ops) (MPAFABAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accessibility & Compliance Services (A11y Testing, Ratings, Privacy/Regulatory) (MPAFAKAO)

Keywords

• Video game ratings
• Age classification
• Content descriptors
• Game rating system
• Content review services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CERO operates with membership fees from individuals and organizations who consent to the organization's objectives and enroll as members. The organization also publishes annual financial statements (activity reports and balance sheets) publicly.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (CERO) reviews video game software submitted by publishers and assigns age-based ratings and content descriptors governing the sale of games in Japan. It publishes a searchable title database for consumers and operates as the officially recognized self-regulatory rating body for the Japanese games market.

Product overview

CERO operates as a single unified product offering: an age-based video game rating service. The core service provides age classification reviews for computer and video games sold in Japan, assigning one of five age-based rating marks (A, B, C, D, Z) along with content descriptor icons indicating specific expression categories. CERO also offers provisional designations for trial versions and pre-release software. Supporting products include the CERO Code of Ethics (the governing review criteria), CERO Bylaws, a title search database, and educational materials such as the CERO Leaflet and Parent's Guide to help consumers understand and utilize the rating system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Age Rating Review Service Review of submitted video game software and assignment of an official age-based rating mark and content descriptors, used by publishers and developers to qualify titles for sale in Japan.
• CERO Title Search (public database) Publicly searchable database of rated video game titles and their assigned CERO age ratings and content descriptors, intended for consumers, parents, and retailers.
• Membership Program Formal membership program under which game industry companies participate in CERO as members in support of its self-regulatory rating activity.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rating system covers all computer and video games for household use sold in Japan, including hidden content, cheat codes, and tricks

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCESA (一般社团法人コンピュータエンターテインメント協会) works with CERO to implement sales self-regulation for Z-rated (18+) games in the distribution industry based on CERO's rating results. Some local governments incorporate CERO rating results into local ordinances for regulatory purposes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• GSRR (Game Software Rating Regulations, Taiwan): Taiwanese game software rating organization with age-based classification system serving the Taiwan market. Comparable to CERO as an Asian regional game rating authority, though operating under different regulatory frameworks and geographic scope.
• ClassInd (Brazilian Ministry of Justice Classification Division): Brazilian government body responsible for age classification of games, films, and other media. Comparable to CERO as a regional rating authority serving the Brazilian market with age-based game classification, operating under a different regulatory model (government vs self-regulatory).

Direct peers

• USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle): German video game rating organization operating under a self-regulatory nonprofit model. Directly comparable to CERO in structure and methodology, providing age-based ratings for the German market and recognized internationally by IARC.
• PEGI (Pan European Game Information): European video game rating system covering EU/EEA markets with age-based classifications (3, 7, 12, 16, 18) and content descriptors. Directly comparable to CERO as the dominant regional game rating authority in its geography, used by the same multinational publishers operating in Japan.
• EIRIN (Film Classification and Rating Organization): Japanese film rating body operating as a Specified Nonprofit Corporation, with overlapping board governance (CERO's board includes EIRIN's Chairman). Directly comparable to CERO as a sister content classification nonprofit operating in the same Japanese market across adjacent media categories.
• Australian Classification Board (ACB): Australian government-administered classification body that rates video games alongside films and other media. Comparable to CERO in providing age-based content classification for games, though operating as a government body rather than self-regulatory nonprofit.
• GRAC (Game Rating and Administration Committee): South Korean game rating body with similar age-based classification system and self-regulatory nonprofit structure. Directly comparable to CERO as the dominant Asian counterpart serving the Korean market for video game content classification.
• OFLC (New Zealand Office of Film and Literature Classification): New Zealand government body classifying films, games, and publications with age-based ratings. Comparable to CERO in performing age-based rating for video games, though operating as a state regulator rather than industry self-regulatory organization.
• ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board): North American video game rating body operating as an independent self-regulatory organization. Directly comparable to CERO in function (age-based rating, content descriptors) and structure (nonprofit self-regulatory model), though serving US/Canada and the broader Americas market.

Broad incumbents

• BBFC (British Board of Film Classification): UK content classification body covering primarily films but also video content (including games distributed on physical media in the UK). Comparable to CERO in providing age-based classification with content descriptors, though broader in media scope and operating under a more established government-recognized framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/computer-entertainment-rating-organization

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Computer Entertainment Rating Organization