Another Sega GiGO Akihabara arcade will close its doors next month

No More Credits

Genda GiGO Entertainment is preparing to roll down the shutters on another Tokyo arcade center. On September 25, at the close of business, the GiGO Akihabara Arcade Building 4, will wish its final players a fond farewell.

As is the case with many of Japan’s dwindling arcade centers, the GiGO center has reached the end of its current lease with the building owners, with GiGO choosing to close down the arcade rather than renew its contract. Any of Center 4’s remaining roles, such as its hosting of the Ichiban Kuji lottery, will instead be relocated to Arcade Center 5, which is located in the northern Akihabara district. (Thanks to PR Times for the statement and Siliconera for the translation.)

GiGO 秋葉原4号館　閉館❗️
嫌だ❗️ 閉めたくない💢💢 https://t.co/q8AIiuLzNg pic.twitter.com/4jj51XPgBn

— GiGO 秋葉原 4号館 (@GiGO_Akihabara4) August 12, 2022

The GiGO arcade centers — all of which bore the Sega name until the start of 2022 — have stood as some of the longest-running and most iconic arcade centers in Tokyo. Back in 2020, Sega closed what was considered the most popular of its arcades, Sega Building 2, after a 17-year occupation. This was followed by the closure (and ultimately, relocation) of Sega’s 28-year-old Ikebukuro arcade center.

Since then, the continuing consolidation and/or closure of Sega/GiGO’s arcade centers seems an unfortunate inevitability. As of September 26, Akihabara will play host to three remaining GiGO centers.

GiGO Akihabara Building 4 Will Close in September 2022 [Siliconera]