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Throngs Pay Respects at Closing of GiGO Akihabara #1 (Formerly Sega's Flagship Arcade)
posted on by Ken Iikura-Gross
The GiGO Akihabara #1 arcade, formerly Sega flagship arcade, closed for the last time on Sunday. In what appears to be the arcade's final X (formerly Twitter) post, the staff thanked fans after it had shut down operations. The staff added, “Thank you for your love over the past 33 years!” and included a photo of fans gathered around the arcade as it shuttered its doors.
GENDA GiGO Entertainment, the operators of GiGO Akihabara #1, announced on July 15 that the arcade would close as the facility's lease contract was expiring. The company also stated that GiGO Akihabara #2, #3, and #5 arcades would continue to operate. After GiGO Akihabara #1's closure, Matahari Entertainment plans to open an amusement facility in the building.
GiGO Akihabara #1 opened its doors in October 1992 under the name High Tech Land Sega Shintoku. Later, its name changed to Club Sega Akihabara, Sega Akihabara #1, and then to GiGO Akihabara #1, but it retained its iconic red walls.
GENDA Sega Entertainment closed its Sega Ikebukuro GiGO arcade in Tokyo in September 2021 after 28 years, and throngs of fans also witnessed its closing at the time. The company (now known as GENDA GiGO Entertainment after Sega completely exited the arcade venture) and Bandai Namco have since opened smaller centers in the area.
