Reuters reports today that the managing director in charge of Xbox operations in Japan, Hirohisa Ohura, is leaving the post effective January 1, and will move to the company's headquarters in the United States.
It is not clear whether this was a voluntary move or a demotion. The Xbox has never had attracted Japanese consumers like its rivals, lagging far behind sales of the Gamecube since the two consoles were released last year, to the extent that the installed base of the Gamecube in Japan is five times that of the Xbox -- despite almost identical launch dates. Ohura will join a team led by Microsoft's chief Xbox officer, Robbie Bach, to work on corporate planning. The move will be effective January 1. Microsoft said a search for Ohura's successor will begin immediately, and may come from outside the company.
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