Japan's Famous SEGA ARCADE Says Goodbye...

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In Japan, arcades are called 'Game Centers' - and they are disappearing at an alarming rate. Countless Japanese game centers and arcades have closed over the past year or more, including 2 of Japans most legendary SEGA arcades; First the Akihabara SEGA, and now the Ikebukuro SEGA Gigo.
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Опубликовано:

28 сен 2024

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Комментарии : 2,2 тыс.

@AbroadinJapan 3 года назад

What a fantastic documentary mate. It’s been disheartening to see so many iconic Tokyo spots disappear over the last 3-5 years. Shibuya and Shinjuku have lost a lot of the gritty night time vibe that I used to enjoy (Osaka still has it fortunately) and Akihabara feels far quieter these days. The Olympic gentrification and two years of Covid have not been kind to the city sadly. Glad you were there to capture the closing of an icon, though very unfortunate to see it go.

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

Thanks so much, Chris~ As much as I know that change is a constant... it's still hard to see the places we love go~

@van3158 3 года назад

It makes me sad to see them fade away, Japanese arcades are a one of the things I’d hope to see on a trip to Tokyo.

@thebloodyenglish6620 3 года назад

So it wasn't that they weren't making enough money to keep going just the new owner wanted to put something else there? That honestly makes this more tragic

@user-xy7le4nb1p 3 года назад

Nah Chris just probably irritated cuz u beat him to it. He was probably also making the same documentary but hasn't posted it yet lol

@lyhthegreat 3 года назад

@@van3158 yeah japan is like the last bastion for arcades tbh...they have been disappearing all over the world.

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

While it is sad to see these go, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be able to document this~ *Have you ever been to an arcade in Japan? let us know your experience in the comments below!* SEGA Ikebukuro... you will be missed by many --- And one more important thing... a MASSIVE thank you to the crew over on Patreon for backing these projects and making all of this possible.

@sondres.8021 3 года назад

I have yet to experience an arcade center in Japan, but it is still really sad to see them go.. I just hope they'll keep going strong in the future

@dariusq8894 3 года назад

I don't have a lot of strong memories of this location since I only visited a couple times, but I do remember having their SEGA taiyaki. =)

@nickbojio6732 3 года назад

Been to a few last year (before the pandemic) to play some crane games, didnt spend too much time though because I was afraid of losing hahaha. Wish I spent more time, now that a lot of them are closing down :( The crane machines are definitely very different than the ones in SEA (or at least where I'm from), the way its placed I find it is slightly easier to win prizes. [EDITED] I've been to the ones here in SEA and although they try to replicate the feel of the ones in Japan, when I was finally there I can feel the difference and the amount of games, anime and of course original prizes (the ones in SEA are mostly bootleg plushies). I was overwhelmed, it was amazing and surreal to be at the place that I always wanted to go since I was a teenager.

@daishomaru7682 3 года назад

I am a gamer and when I went to an arcade in japan, I immediately fell in love with all the subcultures there. One of my favorite genres in particular was the mecha simulator genre, because it was basically piloting giant robots and being that mecha anime protagonist, with some of my favorite games of all time like Gundam Bonds of the Battlefield and Starwing Paradox, my favorite game of all time. In particular with the Starwing, I spent so much money on it and i made a lot of friends. We didn't exactly speak the same language but it's that joy of piloting, that bond you can only get from dogfighting, that we understood each other. It's like, we got to be that gundam pilot we always wanted to be in the anime, and even more, we got to fight other people. We weren't killing each other, but it felt like we were in an anime and became Newtypes, developing an understanding and a power only we could see.

@dpi209 3 года назад

I've been to a game center on my first trip to Japan, taking Purikura with my gf and her friend whom we met in Osaka (she was studying in Fukuoka at that time). On my last trip, I met up with friends on their world trip in Japan, and Taito Game Station Namba was our meeting point in the morning. When in many other countries arcades mostly vanished, they are still firmly rooted in Japanese culture and are part of peoples daily lives. I really hope they find their niche to keep on going forever. Thank you for your thoughtful and moving documentary!

@Jay-B1750 3 года назад

Incredibly well filmed, with sensitivity and also documenting the staff and what they are going through, my employer changed after over a decade and it's just not the same anymore, my heart goes out to all the staff, I really wish them all well in their next employment! ❤

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

Thanks so much

@kausthita11 3 года назад

Yh it's like replacing a family member, which is kinda weird

@CommodoreFan64 3 года назад

I've had the same employer going on 17 years now, and my place of work really does feel like a 2nd home to me with how much time I've spent there, so I really feel for the staff here, and some who have been there for a decade, or more, as It can feel like losing a piece of yourself you will never be able to replace. Hopefully SEGA will be able to build bigger, and better for the future to keep the arcade/game center dreams alive!!

@Jay-B1750 3 года назад

@@kausthita11 yes very much so, I'm in the same building but doing different things with different people, I still know a lot of people but it's so hard to comprehend that it will never be the same again 😔😔

@Del-Lebo 3 года назад

Well said Jay! It is very hard for staff. I've been through it too, and is awful.

@Bob86339 3 года назад

Being born and raised in Japan, arcades were definitely (and still is) a big part of my life. Fun fact: This Ikebukuro arcade had multiple world champions for fighting games, racing games, etc.

@sussybaka5322 2 года назад

I never even knew this place existed, but right now I'm crying watching this. So many people lost an important place in their lives, someone lost a place they could go when they were sad, lonely, and even happy. I wish I could have seen this place. I feel empathy for all those who had a strong connection to this place.

@DazHotep6EQUJ5 3 года назад

Man I hope I am lucky enough to work in a place that fills me with as much pride and joy as these guys feel. Thank you for documenting this Norm!

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

Hope you can someday!!!

@capnkokkupunch 3 года назад

IMAGINE, imagine a mini doc about an arcade closing bringing a tear to your eye, never have even visiting one yourself.... ahem, couldn't be me.

@Just1Nora 3 года назад

Same dude. Haven't had the pleasure. I haven't even been to a Round One or anything here in the states, except for the one that was 80% bowling alley and the arcade was closed by the time I got there, 6-7 pm. 😩 I watch lots of crane game videos on RU-vid for unknown reasons though.

@sneedmando186 3 года назад

Me neither 🥲 we were truly blessed

@batmandalorian5504 3 года назад

Hugs, Bro

@randodox8375 3 года назад

All of the staff there seems to be very passionate about their jobs and arcade culture. This makes this place have a strong community. A special, one of a kind place you can't find anywhere. I plan to visit there one day once my country lockdown is over, but unfortunately i could not anymore. Best of luck to them all

@pekoeji 3 года назад

so sad i'll never get to see some of the iconic SEGA buildings ): remember seeing them in japan vlogs for years and adding them as destinations to my bucket list in middle school! it's so crazy how it's shutting down entirely )':

@MASTEROFEVIL 3 года назад

Same, kid. 😥

@randodox8375 3 года назад

Same for me. It's sad that we will never get to see some of the iconic places we saw in the media with our own eyes. A lot of place has been closing down left and right, pandemic has not been kind to any of this place at all.

@mochiisntbad6762 2 года назад

Me five

@Erichiki 2 года назад

Yeah, same for me (╥﹏╥)

@ej9212 2 года назад

Same T_T

@Terkanil 3 года назад

I've never been to Japan, but seeing stuff like this, hearing some of the stories, it certainly brings tears to eyes.

@shinjipascal862 3 года назад

me too, its my drream to go to akihabara

@atamir8339 2 года назад

Cant believe how accurate this is sigh

@BKMHang10 3 года назад

Strange how quickly the world changes. I remember feeling like "man, these game centers are everywhere" in 2019 when I'd be going through various parts of Tokyo, to the point I couldn't tell most of them apart after a while, and that was after a bunch had already closed. Now I have to wonder how many will be left by the time I can get back to Japan. I always appreciated how much the bigger centers seem to have something for everyone, from the crane games, rhythm games to fighting games. Thanks for giving this center a final showoff to those who weren't able to be there to see it.

@TheVampireFishQueen 3 года назад

Hopefully many will be still there and there a huge comeback.

@Gaitanvive 3 года назад

I love SEGA arcades, I can’t believe the new owners don’t see the cultural value of such an asset. Keep arcade culture alive!

@app0the 3 года назад

Sadly in the game industry those who want to preserve and those who want to produce are on the different sides of the world. These days you can find an occasional Out Run, Pac-man or you name it from 20-40 years ago and it works, but with modern day networked games, once the game is deemed unprofitable - the server goes down, the game either stops working or gets locked into a crippled trial mode, no matter even if the machine itself is still good as new. That's the future of arcade preservation so far as we look at it.

@Ging_10 2 года назад

@@app0the Cant they find a way to preserve and make profit from the brand itself? I mean if a product isn’t profitable anymore then you must design a new product or invest in a new market….A great company such as SAGA has the potential to go international and compete with all the other major video games companies. The reality is that most probably the shareholders are stuck in an old mindset with no willingness to change. That’s pretty much the Japanese business mentality thats why the economy has stagnated for this long.

@Abel-Alvarez 2 года назад

@@Ging_10 You gotta look at SEGA's history because they've had tons of opportunities to branch out but SOJ (Sega of Japan) was run by teams that tainted SEGA's legacy and business. Nowadays SEGA can't even be anything more than a 3rd party developer/publisher.

@mistaecco 2 года назад

@@app0the Unfortunately true. The silver lining is that since so many of the games are regionally isolated, there's plenty of folks outside Japan who REALLY want to play them, and they often make their own ways to make them function again. It really sucks that piracy and network emulation is the only way forward, though.

@davejay6855 2 года назад

It's the real estate and location... if they really, really wanted to keep this going, they could easily relocate to a different area, as unfortunately the success this location and of the area that it was in ironically also made it more valuable than what it was offering to the owners... From a purely business and financial perspective. Even though it may be profitable, if there's something MORE profitable to the new owners who can then charge tenants more or simply pack more in the larger real-estate footprint and height, then that's essentially the same as "losing money" to them even though both may have been inherently profitable.

@KraXed112 3 года назад

Even though I have never been there, I feel sad for the staff and the culture of losing out on such a gem. Got me teary eyed for sure. Great video!

@zagseus2068 3 года назад

Its so sad that I could never experience this place first hand, but thank you so much for the amazing documentary Norm. Absolutely brilliant

@rebeccaryan8153 3 года назад

When stores close down where I am, they just shut. When stores as Iconic as Sega ikebukuro close, they hold a massive party with a countdown. Such a sweet way of celebrating the fantastic memories. So positive and kind

@moksha8473 3 года назад

omg japan is so kawaii they celebrate stores closing despite people losing jobs and becoming financially insecure very sugoiiiiii

@zukiechi 3 года назад

@UC1AuxAsk4pl4y88Arwmm6ig shut up lmao

@DaftPunkSkittle 3 года назад

here in California, in Los Angeles at one of our Beach cities an arcade closed this year and a lot of ppl went for a last time

@westonmeyer3110 2 года назад

The days when America or western countries still cared about their culture passed long ago in the 70s.

@johnboyer9176 3 года назад

Never been, but this makes me sad. Culture everywhere is disappearing. I hope we don't get so far to not realize what we have lost, but rather hang on to what we have. These social centers are crucial to the human experience. Excellent job capturing it.

@TheVampireFishQueen 3 года назад

Hopefully Arcades come back stronger than before

@Mellowyellow8888 3 года назад

I disagree with your assessment with this situation.. Unfortunately entertainment consumption behaviors change over time.. Just look at the US.. at one point there were tons of roller disco's or arcades.. now they are literally non-existent.. some things are a fad.. but others change due to technological changes or even socio-economic changes...

@johnboyer9176 3 года назад

@@Mellowyellow8888 Disagree with what though? Culture changing or the need for social centers? Change is fine, I get that. That said, I think we should give pause for the reason the change is happening and also insure other outlets are available. While this may just be a gaming center, it's also a communal space that thousand or people rely on for interaction. Covid has pushed us to be more and more isolated. Long term, I don't think that isolation will be healthy.

@Steven9567 3 года назад

@@johnboyer9176 it isn't heck goverments loves that we are it means we can't group up and challenge

@Cal3000 3 года назад

@@Mellowyellow8888 arcades are somewhat making a comeback in the states. Round 1s have been very popular lately. US used to be filled with small mom and pop shops all over, but those weren’t sustainable over time. Then the death zone of arcades bt 2010 and 2017. Looks like large Game Center’s are what’s going to catch back on.

@CoffeeKawaii 2 года назад

Tokyo Lens - your features are among some of the best videos across the internet. Period. You managed to capture the weight of the emotion of the closing of Sega Ikebukuro and it’s legacy to international gaming. Absolutely brilliant.

@kausthita11 3 года назад

Man, all of the things I used to look forward to seeing when I was a kid are disappearing slowly... Kind of sad but I guess change is inevitable

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

Really is inevitable But still sad~

@gewglebamboo 3 года назад

not me crying over a game center I've ever visited, Norm your content is amazing thank you for documenting and sharing something so special to Tokyo in this light

@JaytheP 3 года назад

While the building was iconic, seeing those relationships was another level entirely. Bravo to Norm for documenting the humanity behind Sega Ikebukuro

@Mr-Peterson 3 года назад

I just listened to your latest podcast that you kindly shared from patreon with your free audience. It was such a great piece to hear and actually I think it was much better to watch this video after I listened to the podcast, as I could not even see the people of this video but I could feel the much deeper emotions behind these scenes as I would normally do. As I work in a really souless place it's both heartwarming and heartbreaking to see such passionate employees and to see them on their final day. I bet it's really hard for a lot of them. Not to speak about the customers who some of them probably could go there their entire life from childhood to adulthood! I really hope by the time I get to Japan they will reopen this arcade! Also I would like to thank you so much for all the content you make! Your personality and way of showing these slices of life in Japan is so honest, deep and informing! Honestly you are one of the top internet personality I know of! Keep up the magnificent work you do and I wish you all the best!

@fammnak852 2 года назад

Norm, thank you so much for this documentary. I never been to Japan, never been there to SEGA Ikebukuro, but here I am at home CRYING. Growing up I also grew up with SEGA and arcade so I can relate to this heartbreaking story.. and you documented it really well. Thank you Norm!!!

@LuciusVulpes 3 года назад

I've never been to this place, and until today I had never heard of it either, yet I was in tears for most of the video. You can tell just how much love and emotion this place was built upon with, and to see it all go away, well damn, it's quite a strong feeling. Can't even imagine how the employees feel.

@daisyrosario3438 3 года назад

What a sad moment filled with so many memories! The loyalty, the love for Sega is so heartwarming! Hell! Shed a couple of tears in the end, but admired their positive outlook for the future of arcades! Bless you Norm! Thanks for this special video!🇯🇵

@leetshunjye 3 года назад

This marks the end of an era. I'm crying.

@thecloofer1255 3 года назад

Great documentary. I was lucky enough to have finally been able to visit Japan back in 2014. Feels like I made it just in time since I was able to go to the SEGA Arcade, have lunch at the Tsukiji Fish Market, and travel through the old Harajuku train station. Very grateful to have been able to have these experiences. The spirit of Japan and Tokyo will, I'm sure, continue on to share with us even more wonderful sites as it always has. Fingers crossed for a "Post Covid Socio-Economic Miracle". Everyone be well and stay safe out there! See you next summer!

@0utrunner237 3 года назад

I've been in Japan for the last 3 years, and the amount of arcades I've seen shut down at such a swift rate is almost unbelievable. I think it began with that tax increase. Warehouse was the first big one I witnessed, then smaller, local ones, and finally Akihabara Sega was the one that got widespread news reports. It's disheartening for me since the arcade scene still being active is the biggest reason why I moved here.

@Ganbakodon 3 года назад

yeh I was so sad to see anata no warehouse close down! Luckily I got to go there a few times while I lived in Japan

@rangerjoe126 2 года назад

I haven't been there but I can imagine and feel how sad those people who work and customers who go there to see their favorite place closing it feels like an end of an era for them I bet

@ExploringWithJosh 2 года назад

my gosh this hurts me

@aviadglove7 3 года назад

It's just amazing how appreciative everyone were, it just goes to show that arcades are still after all this years a part of Japanese culture.

@PhotoshopShopCS6 3 года назад

Thank you for documenting all of these, really wouldn't have known if you didn't show us!

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

Thank you for taking the time to be a part of it

@andrealevorato3699 3 года назад

To me, one of the best vids of the year! I didn't know this place before, but you made me love it

@jc3drums916 3 года назад

I've always loved video games, and when arcades started disappearing around here back in the late 90s or so, I was really sad. Dave & Buster's sucks, and the run-down mini golf arcades got rid of video games in favor of various mechanical games. So I was ecstatic to get a chance to visit some of the great arcades in Japan, and more recently when independently-owned barcades started popping up around here (which COVID seems to have wiped out). I'm pretty amazed that arcades lasted this long even in Japan, as home console ports are no longer as inferior as they used to be, and haven't been for some time. It really is sad to see them go; the experience of playing video games in an arcade just can't be matched by a home console.

@matttttttttttttttttttttttttttt 3 года назад

I've never been to Japan and I'm not really even into arcades but this still has me tearing up. Great video.

@Xituyu 3 года назад

I spent a lot of time at arcades when I studied abroad and even went to one that was about to close back in 2019. I can’t believe future generations won’t have this :/

@MTTT1234 Год назад

Even though I have never been even close to Japan, and admittedly barely ever played any SEGA games, I found it truly sad and even a bit heartbreaking to see such a place shut down. In our modern times, where everybody can have a console, tablet or smartphone to play any games they wanted, I think such gaming places should have had a stronger presence in our cities. They are not just places to game and play. As the passionate people working there showed, these places were important social focal points for people, may they be local or from abroad. I think it makes a difference if you are alone at home in your apartment and play with your friend online, or if you take that same friend and go to play with them in such an arcade.

@mistayuto 3 года назад

I used to frequent Ikebukuro GIGO in my younger years. Very sad to see it go, it's like a part of me is gone.

@kodydog1229 3 года назад

One of the biggest reasons I go to Japan is for its Game centers. Sad to see them go

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

First day visitor right here!

@kodydog1229 3 года назад

@@TokyoLens Glad I’m not the only one who makes it a first day stop… right after a ramen or gyuudon stop.

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

LOL sameeee! Gyudon and Game Center haha

@Kazuya1008 9 месяцев назад

It is a real pleasure to see the shop（池袋総本店） open again in Ikebukuro in September 2023.

@samuraidjinn Год назад

Wow! When I saw an article about the closing I was sad to hear about it. Glad I watched this. Thanks.

@manicantsettleonausername6789 2 года назад

So sad to see such a wonderful place go, but thank you for documenting it with so much love and care

@laurenmua6574 2 года назад

This video made cry. I was not expecting to emotional but it is a testament to the quality of your film making. Thank you. I am new to your channel, for the last week I have been binging your videos. I am hooked.

@Jarlaxleify 2 года назад

One of the best part of these videos is the score, you nail it so hard it's the best

@jomarmasungcad9214 3 года назад

I really love the way they put notes on the wall. Its very organized omg.

@DanielFoo 2 года назад

I visited this iconic Sega arcade building some years ago..still cannot forget the cutting edge arcade games I can only find here..just an icon in the heart of akihabara.

@mimo5383 2 года назад

Sad in a way, but also exciting. One of the many reasons why I love visiting Japan so often (in past years) has been the relentless pace of change. I'm excited to see how things develop and what new opportunities flourish into reality as new businesses appear and a new generation of icons become established. Change can be painful and scary at first, but can lead to something even greater in time. Great little doco and another quality piece of work!

@PS-lv1mr 2 года назад

Interesting point and perspective

@Diablokiller999 2 года назад

Remember when I first went into a SEGA arcade in Akihabara (was never in Ikebukuro sadly), this feeling of "being home" and people around me were as excited as I was, loving games, loving the thrill of local multiplayer at this huge cabinets. It was awesome and one can ever compare it to online or even local console multiplayer, not even close! I miss those days and regret that I'm not having the opportunity to move to japan, I like that people there seem to do things with way more passion than somewhere else.

@iAxianguy 3 года назад

It's so sad it had to close. I visited it years ago, it was a must-go for us every time we are in Tokyo. Hope the staff find new jobs 🙏

@RandyGallegos 3 года назад

Right in the feels. Haven't been back to Japan in 20 years and I worry that so much that I loved is lost forever in the past. Great job here.

@nyctophagia 2 года назад

Aw man, I was really looking forward to visiting this arcade when I go to Japan... Really sad to see such an establishment close, but your documentary really was a nice farewell to it. Awesome job on it!

@HollowRick 2 года назад

This ^

@hakjie1112 3 года назад

There are hundreds of huge arcades spread across Japan...only people who don't know would think they are disappearing

@TokyoLens 3 года назад

Thousands have disappeared in the last few years Over the past 24 years, more than 70,000 have disappeared And Covid has sped up the closing of many MANY shops They ARE disappearing Quickly And I hope they never fully disappear They hopefully won’t But I wasn’t about to miss the chance to document this

@o0Avalon0o 3 года назад

My god this hurts to see. I keep putting off my trip but I hope I'll still be lucky enough to traverse these businesses.

@jeffreywong6842 2 года назад

Wow! I stayed at Ikebukuro when I went to Japan back in May 2018. Definitely remember visiting this arcade and had a great time, so sad to see that it's now closed.

@Hiyooma 11 месяцев назад

I'm really sad I never got to visit Akihabara in its peak, this video was emotional and I've never even visited this place I could just feel the genuine care and emotion in both workers and customers.

@zerokonbu2 3 года назад

in those days(2002-2006), that was my the biggest virtua fighter 4 gym in Ikebukuro area. thank you for fantastic memories. and good bye.

@RetroBreak 3 года назад

Thank you for making this! I'm so sad to see it go, but you gave it a great send off and a video that can be watched for years to come to appreciate what was!

3 года назад

Really nice to see your video about this place. Ikebukuro was always our home when we went to Japan and i spent so many evenings in this arcade. Just having fun, playing project diva mostly. Its really sad to see this go. But the goodbye they had was beautiful. I hope they will return

@matthieuo9853 2 года назад

Small but strong documentary. Seeing staff and customers emotionnaly invested in this structure do not leave insensitive. Well done.

@CheeseOnEverything 3 года назад

So sad to see it go. Was there on my Japan trip a few years ago, what an iconic place.

@yaminogame7805 3 года назад

I'm so glad I got to visit it, but I'm sad it's closing. It was also my first stop, I was terrible at claw games but really wanted a surfing pikachu plush...I spent a solid half hour and the staff started helping me and cheering me on, they were genuinely happy when I finally won it :)

@ravenwraith1017 2 года назад

Nice revisiting this video. When I saw mention of disappearing Japanese arcades in a certain newsletter, I had a sneaking suspicion I knew what video I'd find clicking the hyperlink...

@Leidnix 2 года назад

I visited Tokio 4 times and always had my room in Ikebkuro. Happy to have visited the center on each of my trip. And sad i couldn't visit a 5th time last year due to Covid...

@JacobElement 3 года назад

This one was definitely a tear jerker. So much emotion and love tied down to this place. I can feel the atmosphere straight from the footage. Bless all of the workers and the fans of the arcade.

@pauls4522 2 года назад

When I went to Japan in 2007 I didn't know what the building was, but it really stood out to me. I think I even have pictures of it somewhere.

@BarnabyGamesDesign 3 года назад

Thanks for making this documentary. I'm so glad someone was there to capture the closing, and in such great detail, for people like myself who had no chance of making it to Japan to be there in person. I hope the remaining game centres can continue to thrive and will still be a fixture of Japan for many years to come.

@cgiraffs 3 года назад

I still remember going there during my last night in my last trip in Japan, and having so much fun in there, despite being there for around an hour or so. Gosh, this hits hard.

@Shiniswar 3 года назад

I visited back in 2016 and it literally brought tears to my eyes seeing all the Taito Stations

@zenbugami Год назад

Even I started crying while watching this 😢thank you for capturing those last moments of this amazing place

@kennethlink9 Год назад

Man, I'm so happy I got to go the one in Akihabara before it closed. Hard to see passion and culture like this fade away

@missbeans 3 года назад

This made me cry and I'm not even a Sega fan! I'm more of a computer gamer, but I really feel for the gamer community losing this iconic gathering place that was staffed with so much love. Reminds me of when Borders started closing down.

@skielahjayne2659 3 года назад

Ahh I’m so happy I got to visit this place last year before the pandemic hit. Such a shame they’re closing down the stores though 🥲

@retsubrooklyn 2 года назад

Terrific work capturing the human side that made this game center unique & special, both through interviews as well as your own reminiscences.

@VegasAceVII 2 года назад

Thank for you this lovely video. I cried. It was edited well. I never got visit this place being from the states but I could feel and see its importance in these peoples eyes.

@432HzFlute 3 года назад

This is so sad. I always wanted to go to Akihabara and go to the arcades when I finally visit Japan.

@apt_get 2 года назад

I feel such a harsh twinge of sadness watching this that I wasn't expecting. I never got to visit these game centers, but the games I played as a kid featured them. It seemed like every other RPG had some kind of reference to a SEGA game center. So in a way, I feel like I have a little bit of emotional attachment to them too, haha. That feeling the employees and visitors seem to be having, when something that seems so constant, so beloved finally goes away, and you're just in shock... I can really empathize. I really hope that now the pandemic has started to wane, some of the gentrification and brick and mortar closings can lapse. It's a bummer that the owner of the property couldn't let SEGA stay.

@lofikiwii 2 года назад

Damn... I've visited that shop in my backpacking trip many years back.... So so sad to see these close down, they were really an experience to have.

@jimz68 3 года назад

The Staff and Managers seem like such wonderful people. I liked the "secret" employee hang out spot. Absolutely fantastic episode. Norm, You are damned good !

@MrFuggleGuggle 2 года назад

Tragic. I loved arcades my whole life, and loved visiting arcades on my trips to Japan.

@MightyRengarrr 2 года назад

Super sad and wholesome video. Thanks so much for share this

@Jabroniville 2 года назад

Wow, it really sucks to see this happening. One of the big things I noticed during my trip in 2014 or so was just HOW MANY of these Game Centers there were. Every tourist area and train station had a ton of them around! It was so great to see all these old games mixed with new stuff... and with actual people using them! I imagined COVID would kill many of them, especially since arcades require huge amounts of space and rent in Tokyo is not cheap.

@gc3k 2 года назад

On top of industry and market trends, like the explosion of mobile gaming in Japan, there's been one natural disaster after another that took its toll on the arcade scene. It really started with the 2011 triple disaster, and the crippling blow was the pandemic. My favorite arcades full of fun memories shut down one after the other, and it hit me like a ton of bricks every time. I guess I can say I'm lucky that it was part of my life at all

@grantr6317 3 года назад

This video brought me to tears knowing I will never be able to go back here again, I visited 4 years ago and the Akihabara SEGA, and Ikebukuro SEGA game centers were probably my favorite part of my whole trip. The energy, the people, the fun, it was just so beyond amazing, something I had never felt before growing up in America. People who didn't even speak English became my friends and we played games together and laughed :( it breaks my heart that Japan will not be the same when I can finally come back to visit

@jporfirio_ 3 года назад

Another great piece Norm. You really captured the passion everyone had with this place. I hope they can bring this place back even if in another location.

@garytheosophilus 2 года назад

Thank you Norm for your heart-felt tribute to the passing of many’s youth

@prissimink3643 Год назад

Hello Norm, This is the first video of the hunt and I just want to thank you for taking the time to find it. I love seeing all the videos you have all about just exploring Japan and really just capturing beautiful moments and archiving it all on the internet before they disappear. I also want to go to Japan to see if I can still have the chance to experience these places before they truly disappear. I love seeing the craftsmanship of the japanese with their techniques, their bladesmithing and wish to see if I could learn some while I am there.

@JacquelineForand 3 года назад

I honestly had tears in my eyes watching this icon close its doors. This was the arcade my friends and I would go to after classes at Rikkyo University, and I still have the Palico cat and rilakkuma plushies that I won there back in 2009/10. It was such a great experience and I'm so sad that I won't be able to take family there when the world is back to normal again. These videos are amazing and have brought back so many memories. ❤ I hope you continue to make them so that these places and the emotions they bring with them are never truly lost to time. 本当にありがとうございました。(シ_ _)シ

@alleycat8509 3 года назад

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO this almost made me cry. I loved that spot and it was always the first stop when i visited Akihabara. For me personally it was mindblowing see all the stuff they had because in germany we don't have places like that.

@chaadlosan 3 года назад

Amazing job. I lived in japan in 90-91. I lived near Tokyo in Chiba-ken. I went to many many arcades in my area and in Tokyo. I was 19 to 20 at the time. So I can totally see this as a bitter-sweet moment. Natsukashi da naaaaa????

@Amira2907 2 года назад

I've been to Anata no Warehouse, another legendary gaming hall in Kawasaki on the last day before it closed down and even though it was my first time there it made me so sad to see such a wonderful place, a partial home and safe haven for many close its doors. When arcades die a huge chunk of underground culture dies.

@HKim0072 2 года назад

I've visited Korea a lot since I was young. There used to be an arcade a few minutes walk from my relatives house. Now, it's a Dominos pizza. Although Korea shifted to PC bangs (PC rooms) instead of traditional arcades. Japan seems to shift a bit slow towards the prevailing trends.

@alaskanwoods 3 года назад

So much emotion in all the faces talking about the arcade. So sad. Love that you can do this for people to know what had been. I wish I could have gone. I still have yet to go to Japan. I live in Alaska. But I am dreaming of it all through out my days.

@skl_maverick 3 года назад

i saw a video of the last moments and i felt so sad like a old friend passed away and i never have the pleasure to visit i was wishing I could be there for the last day 😢😢

@DrMobiusOfficial 3 года назад

I don't know why I'm getting all sad and nostalgic about an arcade I've never even been to! ☹ Guess it brings back memories of arcades I used to visit when I was a kid, which in turn have all shut down

@Gadahax Год назад

Sad to see that this part of Japan is disappearing... I'll never get to experience a lot of them, perhaps even any of them

@Fabian-_- 3 года назад

I have never been in Japan yet, but seeing this I felt sad because I can't visit this awesome place anymore :( Great documentary, I really liked all the Interviews with these passionate fans and employees, thanks a lot for that!

@ChainsofLogic 3 года назад

Amazing video. Thank you for posting this.

@krispy777 2 года назад

What a lovely mini-documentary. You did a wonderful job capturing the story via employee interviews. Best wishes to them in their new jobs. The Director seemed so passionate about his workplace. Employees always benefit from wonderful managers like him. Additionally, he started out the last day looking emotional, but as the day continued, you could tell he felt the love from the crowd & committed fans.

@Trashloot 2 года назад

Beautiful video. I had tears in my eyes while watching this and i never visited an arcade in my life. You did an amazing job here :D.

@beegchunguz7425 2 года назад

Holy crap I forgot about Seibu. Wow that shot brought back memories. Grew up there in the 90s. This is mind boggling this is happening to Japan.

@Zack2912 2 года назад

I used to live near Ikebukuro and would visit the arcade weekly. I remember I was super sad the one time they removed the "Theatrhythm Final Fantasy" machine from the arcade. I'm still in disbelief that the store is gone now. Really hope that SEGA can make their return to Ikebukuro in the future. Thanks for making the video. It provided great insights on information not normally communicated to the general public. Never knew they had an open breakroom there, ha ha.