The interview is just... wrong though. Battle Royale is about a crony-socialist government where your parents enter you for a raffle to be in a death game chance, if they don't want to pay the government education taxes or offer military service. A lottery of "free" schools is held every year and one class of freeloaders is chosen. This isn't a secret, it's straight-up in the opening chapter establishing the setting: You either engage in the pseudo-capitalist system, or you get socialism-style provided for your every need, but like all livestock being provided for by a raiser, you might get harvested. You are not forced into either choice, the world economy is very similar to what it is now, in-setting.

From what I understand, Hunger/Liar Games and the later western-influenced titles it's wealthy elite running things, but the OG inspired-in-Japan one had the government doing it and being the ur-villains.