With the long ago release of Recettear (which remains one of the best JP indies ever), it can be argued that Carpe Fulgur more or less kickstarted the entire long road we've come since for getting non-AAA Japanese titles translated and on Steam. Prior to that, there were loads and loads and loads of stuff that came out over there that never made it to America. (It still occasionally happens but it's far rarer and noteworthy when it does.)