A photographer wants to document Japan's arcades before it is too late

Depending on whom you ask, arcades have been dead or dying or dying or on your last legs for almost 40 years. The reality is more complex, with new business models, barcades, larger complexes such as Dave & Busters and VR/Immersive/Experimental options that take their place.

But the classic arcade in which you can drop a few quarters to play the latest game from one of the best studios in the industry has certainly seen better days. And while a series of local arcades in Japan have held longer than most, their numbers have also decreased in recent years.

To grasp these places before it is too late The last game centers. So far, the book has not received English -language publication (the original publication contains Spanish and Japanese text), although Alonso begins this weekend and runs until May 5, Alonso is that it is. Exhibit photos from the book in Los Angeles in the && gallery.

As part of the efforts, books and documentaries in connection with games in connection with the documentary films, Polygon carries out an email interview series with the people behind it. Take a look at the full list to read yourself Heaven And immortality Art books, A Street Fighter 2 Documentary and others. In the following Alonso discusses The last game centersHis experience in Japan and plans an English version of the book.

Polygon: I love the concept of the book. How did you decide which game centers can be seen? Did you have certain criteria you were looking for?

Victor Alonso: Thank you very much! The selection process was very organic. I have mainly traveled to Japan since 2015 for photography purposes, but this time it was different. As soon as the country was opened to Covid, I traveled in Japan for a whole month in 2023, mainly Tokyo and Osaka with a clear mission: to document as many game centers as possible. I mainly searched for rooms that despite the past few years, which have kept their identity, which felt 100% authentic. I was not necessarily looking for the largest or most famous arcades, but for the still open soul … those in which the locals still gather to play and hold every day Super Street Fighter II X Tournaments etc. If a Game Center had the “end of an era” offer, it would go straight to my list because I [knew] It would close “soon”. In the end I documented more than 30 game centers, but the book contains only 25. Unfortunately, two years later, 1/4 are already closed or have disappeared. This is a sad story and we think about how we can approach this for the 2nd edition of the book, as it may change dramatically.

Do you have a favorite photo from the book you can share with us?

It is difficult to choose just one, but there is a shot that I recorded in Rido that always brings me. The place was half abandoned, just a handful of old machines, but still ran. The photo captures a salum man who has just come from the event location. This is a powerful picture that combines my classic street photography with this 80s -Showa atmosphere that I was looking for. Vintage glow bulbs light up in the background, an amazing old school plate … and silence. It feels like the last heartbeat of a forgotten kingdom.

Have you hit problems with Arcade owners that your arcades should not be included in the book?

Surprisingly no. Everyone I met was incredibly open and even touched that someone had traveled so far to document their place. Many owners have actually shared personal stories. I think you saw this project as a kind of tribute – a way to keep part of your life that is slowly disappearing. There was a lot of trust and I tried to be very respectful and to honor this culture in the way I told every story. I also had a lot of good stories at the opening of the exhibition in the Meteor Gallery. Many people from the industry looked at the book and imagined that some of them showed me old flyers or even photos from the 90s, opening days, etc. This was very touching for me.

I was sorry to see that of the book “Black Label” version Do not find out his Kickstarter campaign destination. Have other options for publishing the Black Label Edition or an English edition?

Yes … the Black Label Edition was a dream version: larger format, more photos, some notes behind the scenes. We have not reached the financing goal, but the love and support we received told me that it is still worth being pursued. We examine alternative ways to achieve it for the 2nd edition of the book because the original is almost sold out! And yes, I definitely want to make an English edition with my editor Héroes de Papel. I get messages almost weekly from people around the world who ask about it, and I want this story to everyone who ever drop a coin into a cabinet and felt a little spark.