After 17 Years, Iconic Sega Arcade in Akihabara Closes Its Doors in Tearful Farewell

 

Earlier this month, it was reported that the Sega Akihabara Building 2 Arcade was closing its doors on August 30 after donning the Akihabara cityscape for 17 years. The iconic building was the entryway to Akihabara from Tokyo's city center and hosted thousands upon thousands of anime-related signage over the years. In the closing hours of the arcade, a group gathered in front of the building to say sayonara as the staff waved a tearful thank you and goodbye.

 

@JobanRiser_KH on Twitter caught the closing moments on Twitter:

 

 

セガ秋葉原2号館
17年の歴史に幕を下ろしました。
これまでありがとうございました❗️

17年間お疲れ様でした。#セガ秋葉原2号館グランドフィナーレ pic.twitter.com/Sv4HAhU43A

— もっち (@JobanRiser_KH) August 30, 2020

 

 

And here some photos, capturing the last moments of the much-loved arcade.

 

 

17年間ありがとうございました！#セガ秋葉原2号館グランドフィナーレ pic.twitter.com/M7Iq0w5DCp

— セガ公式アカウント???? (@SEGA_OFFICIAL) August 30, 2020

 

 

 

セガ秋葉原2号館(アキハバラギーゴ GiGO)は8月30日(日)22時、大勢のファンに見守られながら17年の歴史に幕——。
女性店長の挨拶では、声を詰まらせる場面もあり感動的だった。
長い間ありがとう。 pic.twitter.com/8aua5TqhJX

— フォト秋葉原 (@PhotoAkiba) August 30, 2020

 

 

 

セガ秋葉原2号館、グランドフィナーレ。「17年ありごとうございました！」たくさんのひとたちに見守られながら閉店 pic.twitter.com/1SvNGY4OCN

— ﾂﾙﾐﾛﾎﾞ (@kaztsu) August 30, 2020

 

 

While the Sega Akihabara Building 2 Arcade isn't the only Sega arcade in Akihabara (in fact there are 3 more, including two closer to the station), many loved the building for its recognizable staircase, and wistful memories of walking over Manseibashi Bridge from Kanda and seeing their favorite characters staring back up them from the side of the building.

 

While I don't have any pictures of the building during the time, but when I first came to Japan on a holiday in 2016, I walked over the bridge from Kanda looking for Akihabara, after using Google Maps to find Honoka's house from Love Live! School Idol Project. I knew, without a doubt in my mind that I was finally in Akihabara when I came across a humungous Love Live! Sunshine!! poster on Sega Akihabara Building 2 arcade overwhelming the intersection. I remember feeling amazed at seeing anime on display like that, right in the open. You never forget a feeling like that.

 

It was never revealed why the Sega Akihabara Building 2 arcade was closed.

 

Sources: JobanRiser_KH on Twitter, SEGA Japan official on Twitter, Photo Akiba on Twitter, @kaztsu on Twitter, Kotaku

 

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Daryl Harding is a Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram. 

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