Earlier this month it was announced that SEGA Building 2, a Japanese SEGA arcade in Akihabara, will be closing its doors for good on August 30. While no official reason has been given, some speculate that SEGA are competing with themselves as the 1st, 3rd, 4th and recently opened 5th SEGA arcades in the area draw much more foot traffic thanks to being near stations and busy roads. It has also been said that Building 2 is cramped and is difficult to navigate.
Opening in October 2003 as Akihabara Kigo, the now simply named Building 2 stood at the corner across from the Manseibashi Bridge and the Kandagawa River, giving a clear view of the building which allowed SEGA to use the building for murals of upcoming games and anime. Those who have never visited the arcade, or even set foot in Japan, would recognize the building instantly for the diagonal orange stripes, and for its numerous appearances in video games, television shows and movies (just check out the clip from Big Man Japan above).
We here at SEGAbits are sad to see the building close, and wish the staff a hopeful transition to other arcades in the area.
[Source: SoraNews24]
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I wouldn’t be surprised if the pandemic had something to do with it.
Still sucks. I had a trip planned to Tokyo for May, which I obviously had to cancel, but I’ll never get to go to this arcade now.
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT… and I feel fine