Think it’s just the UK that’s got a skills shortage?

With Games Up reminding us every few weeks that our education system isn’t fit to produce skilled workers for the games industry, and the relative quietness of our friends in the US and Canada, it’s easy to think that we’re the only ones out there with the problem.

But, in fact, Japan is facing a similar shortage, says Square Enix chief technologist Naoto Yoshioka, in an interview with Develop published today as part of our focus on the Asian development scene.

Speaking about the issue, Yoshioka said: "In terms of those skilled in implementation, there are just about enough [people for our needs]. The number of people skilled in planning and design-related areas, however, isn’t sufficient and, because of the deficiencies in knowledge of those coming from the so-called ‘game schools’, that probably won’t change."

For more from Yoshioka on the Japanese development scene and his hopes for the CEDEC development conference, check out the full interview here.