Sega Arcade Akihabara Building 2 employees bid farewell as gaming hub closes its doors after 17 years

After 17 years, the iconic Sega Akihabara Arcade Building 2 in Tokyo, Japan has permanently closed its doors to its loyal patrons. 

Sega earlier confirmed that the popular arcade building in Akihabara will be closing down for good on August 30 after news about its closure quickly spread on various social media platforms. A Twitter user previously posted a photo of a sign inside the establishment, notifying customers that the establishment will permanently cease its operations by the end of August. 

Although the company did not reveal the reason, some speculated that the culprit behind its cessation is the ongoing pandemic caused by the coronavirus disease 2019, which also forced hundreds of businesses across the globe to close shop. 

During the arcade hub’s final hours on Sunday, all of the staff went in front of the establishment and bowed to bid their last farewell to their loyal patrons who showed their support in the last 17 years.

Some who witnessed the event shared the emotional moment on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Sega's official Twitter account shared the final moments of the arcade establishment. Until the very end, some frequent visitors opted to spend the closing hours of the Akihabara building by playing their favorite games.

The Sega Arcade Akihabara Building No. 2 (originally called Akihabara Kigo) first opened in 2003 and gradually became a popular tourist destination and a gaming hub for anime and video game enthusiasts around the world. The building, which is situated near Kandagawa River, also became an iconic fixture in Akihabara with its easily recognizable orange staircase and enormous anime posters.