Sega closes landmark Tokyo arcade, massive crowds gather, manager vows comeback【Pics, video】

https://ift.tt/3tZM1xZ Casey Baseel

Chapter of video game history comes to a close, but staff are still hoping for a new beginning.

Monday was a holiday in Japan, and having the day off put a smile on the faces of many across the ordinarily industrious nation. In Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district, though, the mood was bittersweet, since it was also the last day for the Sega Ikebukuro GiGO arcade.

＼ セガ池袋GiGOの思い出大募集 ／

ハッシュタグ #セガ池袋の思い出 をつけて投稿してください

募集期間：9/7～9/20まで
⁰形式は動画・イラスト・テキスト等、SNSで投稿できるものであれば何でもOKです
リプライの注意事項をご確認ください#セガ池袋#28年間ありがとうございました pic.twitter.com/AUD7omteVW

— セガ池袋GiGO (@SEGA_ikebukuro) September 8, 2021

The multi-story complex opened in the summer of 1993, at a time when arcades offered gaming experiences that were leaps and bounds ahead of the technical performance of home consoles or PCs. As time went on, Sega Ikebukuro GiGO did its best to adapt to changing tastes, adding music/rhythm games, UFO catchers, sticker picture booths, and even an entire themed cafe with rotating salutes to anime/game franchises popular with the otaku and fujoshi crowd, who would visit the arcade during shopping trips around Ikebukuro’s numerous specialty shops.

But on Monday, it all came to an end, and Sega Ikebukuro GiGO is now permanently closed.

ただいま店頭にソニックくんが遊びに来てくれてます
ソニックくんと当館で写真が撮れるのも本日で最後になります
ぜひ記念にお写真撮って行ってくださいね#セガ池袋#28年間ありがとうございました pic.twitter.com/XjJUnSFc8I

— セガ池袋GiGO (@SEGA_ikebukuro) September 20, 2021

Sega mascot Sonic was on hand to pose for pictures with fans who came by to pay their respects to the arcade, and he was a busy guy, as gigantic crowds gathered on Sunshine-dori, the street outside the building’s main entrance which is largely closed to vehicle traffic.

今夜池袋SEGAありがとうございます!
また来るのが待ちきれません (pic by: 風信子) pic.twitter.com/l8DRGqbuAu

— Jesslin Sit (*‘∀‘从´∀｀●) (@JesslinSit) September 20, 2021

池袋のSEGA前怖い。絶対帰り駅やばいから帰りタクシーで帰ろ(*^^*) pic.twitter.com/AwuSitv4V3

— あむ (@Riddle__amu__) September 20, 2021

Many chose to stick around to the very last moment the arcade was in business, counting down the final seconds until the final closing time.

池袋セガ閉店セレモニーw pic.twitter.com/RJ5gL5fNNg

— MINI (@PUBG_MINI) September 20, 2021

池袋SEGA 久しぶりに拍手喝采を聞いて人の温かみを思い出した pic.twitter.com/cOewJws1Il

— ももんちゃん (@pokemomon321) September 20, 2021

The blow was somewhat softened by the fact that Sega Ikebukuro GiGO had announced it was going out of business in August, giving fans about a month and a half to sort out their feelings. This also allowed the arcade to turn its last few weeks into a celebration of the shared history between the building and gamers. Crane game players who needed a bag for their prizes, for example, were given commemorative bags with an illustration of the building and the message “Thank you for 28 years” printed on them.

【閉館まであと3日】
明日からの3日間は、景品をご獲得されたお客さまにメモリアルショッパーをプレゼント
28年間の感謝を込めた限定デザインで、ぜひ思い出も一緒にお持ち帰り下さいね
※1日の配布枚数には限りがございますので予めご了承下さい#セガ池袋#28年間ありがとうございました pic.twitter.com/QN67vr8AKT

— セガ池袋GiGO (@SEGA_ikebukuro) September 17, 2021

Giant signs bearing the message in Japanese, as well as the arcade’s opening and closing dates (1993.07.21-2021.09.20) were also put up on the building’s exterior.

さよならSEGA池袋
10何年間お世話になりました！ばぃばぃ(。p´・ェ・)ノ・ﾟ・#セガ池袋 #セガ池袋GiGO pic.twitter.com/9mGxPClsAk

— イオン.jr (@ioniniam) September 20, 2021

Following the closure countdown, the arcade’s manager, an openly emotional Mr. Noda, addressed the crowd in a speech that was live-streamed on the official Sega arcade YouTube channel.

Noda began by thanking not only the arcade’s customers for their support over the last 28 years, but also the many people who have worked at Sega Ikebukuro GiGO. “If we could have, I wanted to go on operating the arcade, right here, forever, being able to see everyone’s wonderful smiles” he said, alluding to the many happy moments the facility had been able to provide.

However, while Noda and the staff were here to say goodbye, he made it clear that he has no intention of letting it become goodbye forever. “From tomorrow, Sega will not have an arcade in Ikebukuro, but we believe that the culture of arcades will not disappear,” he asserted, before promising “We will be working hard so that one day we can put up the Sega sign in Ikebukuro again, turn on the lights at a new facility, see you all again, and make new memories together.”

▼ Manager Noda, holding up a sign saying “Our sincere thanks for your patronage of Sega Ikebukuro GiGO over the last 28 years.”

セガ池袋GiGO、本日9月20日(月)20時に閉店いたしました。
ご来店いただいたお客さまからも、沢山あたたかいお言葉をいただき、誠にありがとうございました。
またどこかでお会いしましょう！

セガ池袋GiGO 館長 #セガ池袋の思い出 #28年間ありがとうございました pic.twitter.com/FnJXb3F9Bu

— セガのお店公式 (@SEGA_Ent) September 20, 2021

Similar sentiments were expressed by receipts from the arcade’s souvenir shop, which bore the message マタカナラズアイマショウ, “We know we’ll meet each other again someday.”

えっ　レシートよく見てなかった　
ありがとうありがとうありがとう　#セガ池袋GiGO pic.twitter.com/H9JoTlK2FW

— 100％タワティンでーす9月から求職中 (@tawaramaru) September 20, 2021

Then there’s the sign with a timeline of the building’s history, for which “2021: Closed after 28 years and 3 months in business” is only the second-to-last entry, with another line, with the ambiguous date 202_, listed under it and the corresponding event left to be filled in.

池袋SEGAさん行ってきた！
28年間お疲れ様でした#セガ池袋GiGO #セガ池袋 #28年間ありがとうございました pic.twitter.com/M9aKLdFXQ1

— てち (@Yp4JZmn5x9pJXuU) September 20, 2021

Here’s hoping the dream of making a comeback comes true, but for now, at least gamers have a lot of fond Sega Ikebukuro GiGO memories to look back on.

Sources: Twitter, YouTube/@セガのお店公式チャンネル, Jin, Otakomu
Top image: PR Times
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