Danica Davidson
July 15, 2025 
Akihabara is essentially otaku central, and it’s been home to many massive arcades. However, arcades there have been shuttering, especially in the last few years as a result of COVID. Practicing social distancing meant playing video games at home, and not in a public arcade. But now we’re learning of another important Akihabara arcade that will soon be no more.
The story of this arcade starts in 1992, thanks to Sega. Then it was titled High-tech Land Sega Shintoku. Later it got renamed to Club Sega Akihabara, but that still wasn’t its final name. Its third name became Sega Akihabara Building 1.
Sega sold the building and other arcades to Genda, and Genda’s GIGO brand took over. This led to the arcade’s next name, GiGO Akihabara Building 1.
Whatever you want to call it, though, its days are numbered. Out of seemingly nowhere, on July 15 Genda stated that the arcade’s final open day will be August 31.
Why is this happening? Genda simply said that the lease is expiring. It feels as if it might be more than that, because leases can potentially be renegotiated, but Genda is being tight-lipped so far.
We already have an idea of what will replace it. Matahari Entertainment has leased the building after August 31, and it says it’s going to put an “amusement facility” there. This is kind of vaguely worded, and since Matahari Entertainment sometimes works with arcades as well, there’s a theory one arcade will be switching out for a different arcade. Other possibilities being floated around on the internet include the building being turned into an internet café or a karaoke bar.
While the future feels up in the air, this is a major change to the Akihabara neighborhood, as GiGO Akihabara Building 1 has been a landmark at the scene for more than three decades. And while this arcade’s days are numbered, there are still other arcades existing in the area.
Source: SoraNews24
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Danica Davidson is the author of the bestselling Manga Art for Beginners with artist Melanie Westin, plus its sequel, Manga Art for Everyone, and the first-of-its-kind manga chalk book Chalk Art Manga, both illustrated by professional Japanese mangaka Rena Saiya. Check out her other comics and books at www.danicadavidson.com.
