Japan’s gaming arcades face extinction as pandemic weighs heavy on an industry in decline

From a high of 22,000 in 1989, arcades now number fewer than 4,000 – even Gaming giant Sega sold off 85 per cent of its arcade business in November

Those that have survived are now struggling with virus-curtailed opening hours, and customers who are staying away despite anti-infection measures

Reading Time:3 minutes

A man plays a game at the Mikado game centre in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo last month. Bright, noisy arcades are still a neighbourhood fixture in Japan, but have been disappearing as business is hit by virus-curtailed opening hours. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:00am, 11 Feb 2021Updated: 9:00am, 11 Feb 2021

Evenings are normally the busiest time at Mikado, a retro gaming arcade in Tokyo, but these days the shutters come down early, leaving “Street Fighter” fans out in the cold.

Bright, noisy arcades are still a neighbourhood fixture in Japan, but they have been disappearing as business is hit by virus-curtailed opening hours.

“This is when the place usually starts to fill up,” laments Yasushi Fukamachi, a manager at Mikado, whose 250 vintage machines attract nocturnal students and office workers who have just clocked off.

It is approaching 8pm and a few dozen gamers wearing face masks are fighting it out on joystick classics, eking out their final minutes of fun before being shooed out.

Yasushi Fukamachi, a manager at the Mikado game centre, says customers have stayed away despite anti-infection measures. Photo: AFP

Since early January, Tokyo and other parts of Japan have been under a state of emergency to bring down surging virus cases. Businesses are told to close early, with possible fines for those that refuse.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x