Creator Highlight – Japanese Screenshot Challenge Community

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @ukaka5656.

Every week in our Development Update blog, the MSFS Team challenges the community to capture their best screenshots that fit the new weekly theme. We are continually amazed by the dedication of the Screenshot Challenge participants as they showcase beautiful and creative images of aircraft and scenery in Microsoft Flight Simulator. On the social platform X (formerly Twitter), the weekly Screenshot Challenge has particularly been embraced by a passionate group of simmers from Japan.

To coincide with the release of World Update 20: Japan, we recently caught up with Japanese simmer Pommes L who has been compiling weekly stats for several years documenting the number of Japanese winners and runners up for each weekly Screenshot Challenge. Throughout this article, we are featuring images personally selected by several Japanese players as their #1 favorite screenshot.

[Editor’s note: we used the machine translation feature of Microsoft Copilot to communicate with Pommes L. We have made minor modifications to the English translations of some of the responses, but the original meaning has not been changed.]

How long have you been a flight simmer? Was Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020) your first sim, or were you involved in the hobby before that?

I started playing with Microsoft Flight Simulator X, but I was a total beginner at flying and didn’t improve much. After MSFS2020 came out, I found more YouTube videos in Japanese explaining how to use the controls, and I slowly learned how to fly. Now, I really enjoy flying through the sky as if I were the captain. It’s fun and exciting.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @MihamaBlend.

You’ve been reporting the Japanese Screenshot Challenge winners every week for several years now. What was your motivation to post the weekly results on behalf of the Japanese community?

When I first started in November 2021, I was just posting the results of my own MSFS challenge. As time went on, people I met through social media started joining the challenge too. Before I knew it, I was sharing everyone’s results together. Even now, Japanese participants take part every week, and there are always a few winners, so I naturally end up posting the results weekly. On social media, we cheer each other on, celebrate wins, and enjoy the friendly atmosphere.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @Johnny_aircargo.

Do the Japanese players cooperate to help each other take screenshots together, or is it solely a solitary activity?

Most people usually take screenshots individually. But if the theme is about group flying, and there happens to be a YouTuber doing a live multiplayer stream at that time, it sometimes turns into a screenshot session for the MSFS Challenge.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @Pommes_L.

How popular is flight simulation in Japan? Is there a large community of Japanese flight simmers?

Even though the flight simulation community in Japan may be smaller than in Western countries, I think there are many passionate fans. On YouTube, lots of Japanese users join live multiplayer flights using MSFS, and people enjoy chatting and sharing on social media. Flying together creates fun and exciting content that shows the joy of flying and the beauty of aviation. Even people who don’t have MSFS seem to enjoy watching and feeling part of the experience.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @Takeru_Toys.

Does the Japanese community have a Discord server or other social space where you meet to discuss MSFS and share screenshots?

In Japan, members of the flight sim community often connect through participatory YouTube livestreams and exchange information via X (Twitter). These are some popular livestreamers in Japan:

• CAPTAIN JOE (ジョーさん): Recreates realistic flights in MSFS2020/2024 and explains procedures clearly for beginners. 
• CAPTAIN Ryu（リュウさん): Popular for round-the-world flights and airport gourmet. Also shares history, myths, culture, and food from each region. 
• Threefall Japan Aviation（3chさん): Fun events like photo shows, landing challenges, and flight training. A community with both entertainment and real skills.

All three are currently active airline pilots!

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @wct_ucchi.

Do you have any tips or tricks for taking beautiful screenshots in MSFS 2024?

I’m not sure if my answer will be helpful, but I personally pay close attention to the angle of the sun. The sun’s height is very different between the summer solstice and the winter solstice. I also watch how the time of day affects the colors of buildings and the way shadows appear. Thanks to Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, we can now fine-tune the time using plus and minus buttons. It’s a very useful feature, and I really like it!

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @MazwyMSFS.

Do you recall a specific screenshot challenge that was particularly exciting for the Japanese Community?

The MSFS Challenge theme “Aviation Safety,” held on August 18, 2022, was based on a request from Japan and was very special for us. It was a great opportunity to share with people around the world about important aviation accidents that happened in Japan. We joined the challenge by taking screenshots with a sense of gratitude for aviation safety. It was a truly memorable experience. In Japan, every year on August 12, many people post messages on social media to express their appreciation for aviation safety.

[Editor’s note: August 12 is the anniversary of Japan Air Lines Flight 123, the worst civil air accident in Japanese history.]

They use the hashtag #空の安全に携わるすべての人に感謝, which means “Thank you to everyone involved in aviation safety.” Thank you to everyone around the globe involved in aviation safety. In addition, the idea for the “Aviation Safety” theme was suggested by @yokohamachichio, who is very active in the Japanese MSFS community.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @CpuGeta486.

Thank you to Pommes L for answering our questions and to each Japanese simmer who submitted their favorite MSFS screenshot for this article. We hope the entire Japanese flight sim community enjoys World Update 20: Japan and Local Legend 22: NAMC YS-11!

どうもありがとうございます！

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @nintaroww.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @AvionChibi.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @m4TJTrvIyOGaOFj.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @ryota_sim.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @syokatunofu.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @ARROW2929.

Screenshot from Japanese simmer and X (formerly Twitter) user @tsujiKa_air.