Thursday, February 1, 6:30 PM (ET) at The Japan Foundation, Toronto (2 Bloor St. East, Suite 300).

Doors open at 6:00 PM. Admission is free. 

How have videogame arcades maintained their social and economic relevance in Japan? How did arcade videogames influence play practices in North America, and how are they distinct from them?

Japanese videogame arcades, commonly called game centers, have been a mainstay of the Japanese urban entertainment scene since the release of Space Invaders in the late 1970s. They introduced culturally significant games such as Pacman, Street Fighter II, and Dance Dance Revolution, which have had a lasting impact on arcade and videogame culture throughout the world. This presentation will provide an overview of the evolution of videogame arcades in Japan, examining their social functions as alternative sites of interpersonal communication and as urban hubs embodying the interconnectivity of the videogame, anime, and manga industries within Japan’s media environment.

Register here: https://tr.jpf.go.jp/videogame-arcades/