Japan’s leading videogame magazine, Famitsu, finally announced the winners of its 2008 awards, and in a display of differences between Japanese and American videogame tastes, Capcom’s Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G took home the Game of the Year prize, with publisher Capcom being named Company of the Year.

Nintendo also fared well, with Wii Music, Mario Kart, and Super Smash Bros Brawl all winning awards.

1UP.com translated the entire list of winners, chosen via popular vote by Famitsu’s readers:

• Game of the year: Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G
• Best Seller: Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G
• Person of the Year: Hideo Kojima
• Character of the Year: Solid Snake
• Company of the Year: Capcom
• Rookie Title Prize: The Last Remnant
• Innovation Prize: Wii Music
• High Quality Prize: Metal Gear Solid 4
• Racing Prize: Mario Kart Wii
• Multiplayer Prize: Super Smash Bros Brawl
• All Generation Prize: Pokemon Platinum
• Communication Prize: Animal Crossing: City Folk
• Adventure Puzzle Prize: Professor Layton and the Final Journey Through Time
• Masterpiece Prize: Dragon Quest V
• Character Action Prize: Dissidia Final Fantasy
• Role Playing Prize: Tales of Vesperia
• Dramatic Prize: 428
• PlayStation 2 Prize: Persona 4
• Worldwide Prize: Grand Theft Auto IV

The Monster Hunter series is extremely popular in Japan due to its networking capabilities and communal experience. Thus far, American Monster Hunter releases have received lukewarm reception and mediocre reviews.

Gears of War 2, Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, and LittleBigPlanet were some the big winners in America’s multiple videogame awards.