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Tokyo’s SEGA arcade shuts down amid industry slump

A banner that reads “Thank you for 28 years” is seen on the Sega Ikebukuro Gigo building, Sep. 20, 2021. (Twitter/@SEGA_ikebukuro)
A banner that reads “Thank you for 28 years” is seen on the Sega Ikebukuro Gigo building, Sep. 20, 2021. (Twitter/@SEGA_ikebukuro)
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22 Sep 2021 08:09:54 GMT9
22 Sep 2021 08:09:54 GMT9

Arab News Japan

The Tokyo-based Sega Ikebukuro Gigo arcade concluded its 28-year existence with an upbeat ceremony in Japan’s capital on September 20, allowing fans to say their farewells to an iconic landmark.

This comes after an announcement released by Sega in August revealing that the nine-story arcade, which opened in 1993, will permanently close due to the expiration of a fixed-term leasing contract.

During the closing ceremony, a banner was displayed Infront of the arcade that read “Thank you for 28 years.”

The staff also joined in on the ceremony by wearing shirts with the same message. To set the theme, a song that is frequently played at Japanese stores before closing named “Hotaru no Hikari” (The Light of the Firefly) was played to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne.”

Additionally, the arcade’s manager gave a speech where he recalled the long-standing history of Sega Ikebukuro Gigo in order to clarify that the closure is due to “unavoidable circumstances” and not COVID-19.

“If it were in my power, I’d want to stay open forever at this location and greet the happy faces of our wonderful customers,” the arcade manager said.

“Unfortunately, at this time, the way it turned out was, the arcade has closed,” the arcade manager added.

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