It seems that the Japanese market continues to be a major sticking point for Microsoft - and the future of the Xbox 360 in the territory won't get any brighter according to the President of Enterbrain (publisher of the Famitsu range of magazines).

Speaking at a seminar in Tokyo, Hirokazu Hamamura delivered what can only be described as a terminal prognosis for Xbox 360, revealing that only 150,000 consoles had been sold in Japan since it launched in December 2005. Hamamura-san did offer a slight improvement in figures, estimating that a further 100,000 units could be sold by the end of 2006 thanks to the release of Blue Dragon.

Looking further ahead however, Hamamura guessed that by the end of 2007, only 560,000 Xbox 360 will have been sold in Japan out of a possible 17,460,000 units world-wide.

For all their intentions to get even the slightest foot-hold in Japan, it seems that Microsoft may be onto a loser for the second generation running...

We'll have more news shortly...