While the PS Vita has been enjoying healthy sales in Japan, it’s not quite to the level of what you’d expect from a new hardware launch. Sony WWS boss Shuhei Yoshida has chimed in on why, referencing the still steady sales of PSP units.

“So overall, the portable game market in Japan is still very healthy. We are still seeing good sales through PSP, and we are advertising on TV, a dedicated PSP TV campaign, at the same time we are introducing Vita. For the Japanese market, we are expecting to see a slower transition in platforms. PSP will still continue to be very popular as an entry model. Especially for a younger audience. Our marketing group’s advertising is targeted towards kids’ magazines, in support of these younger-oriented titles. At the same time, we are trying to communicate the value and new, exciting features of PS Vita to an older, mature, core gamer audience,” Yoshida told Venture Beat.

Further, Yoshida alluded that initial sell-through numbers in North America will likely eclipse that of Japan by a considerable margin. He admitted that the launch line-up wasn’t all that enticing to your average Japanese gamer, noting that big-hitters like Uncharted aren’t as popular compared to say, Monster Hunter.  While SCE Japan has been making inroads towards raising awareness, he says Uncharted 3 only shifted around 200,000 copies in the region.

Given that Monster Hunter sold an upwards of 4 million units on PSP in Japan, that represents a huge gulf in sales.

Yoshida believes the line-up will be much more appealing in the West and given the genre variety, we’re inclined to agree. Chances are RPGs like Gravity Rush will help spur sales over in Japan.

Follow this author on Twitter.