{"id":60636,"date":"2025-01-31T20:07:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T20:07:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/arcade-game\/arcade-heroes-location-watch-japan-special-oga-shi-looks-at-aeon-mall-arcades-molly-fantasy-feedy-diner-arcade\/"},"modified":"2025-01-31T20:07:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-31T20:07:07","slug":"arcade-heroes-location-watch-japan-special-oga-shi-looks-at-aeon-mall-arcades-molly-fantasy-feedy-diner-arcade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=60636","title":{"rendered":"Arcade Heroes Location Watch Japan Special: Oga-Shi Looks At Aeon Mall Arcades (Molly Fantasy, Feedy Diner & Arcade)"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Welcome to a different kind of Location Watch from what Arcade Heroes has done previously! In a specially prepared piece for the site, Oga-Shi from Sega Amusements<\/a> has kindly written a look at a couple of locations in Japan, where he has been spending some time again lately. These offer a snapshot of how their Aeon Mall arcades are going right now, from the tried and tested Molly Fantasy to the new Feedy Diner & Arcade we briefly mentioned in the last regular Location Watch<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Originally we planned to feature a contribution from him in one such LW, but he has produced such a detailed and informative report for us that it deserves its very own post. Take it away Oga-san \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Aeon Mall Arcades: Japan\u2019s Most Famous Hidden Arcades<\/h2>\n

When you think of \u201cJapanese arcades\u201d, you might picture the dazzling neon lights of Akihabara, reminiscent of scenes from William Gibson novels or Mamoru Oshii anime. Or perhaps you imagine the dimly lit, nostalgic arcades like Mikado or Hey, which recreate the atmosphere of old-school arcades with a touch of East Asian chaos.<\/p>\n

Of course, when you visit Japan, you\u2019ll want to check out these places. I understand the appeal. You\u2019ll likely have a great time at flagship stores like Round 1 or GiGO in Tokyo and Osaka.<\/p>\n

But do you know which arcade chain currently has the most locations in Japan? GiGO? Round One? Bandai Namco? Or Taito?<\/p>\n

No, the chain with the most locations is in fact \u201cMolly Fantasy\u201d. Molly Fantasy is a brand under Aeon Mall<\/a>, which is part of the retail giant Aeon. Aeon operates 1,230 stores domestically and internationally, making it one of the largest arcade operators.<\/p>\n

For arcade fans in the West, I\u2019d like to introduce Molly Fantasy and other interesting Aeon developments, but first, let\u2019s understand what Aeon is.<\/p>\n

Aeon Malls<\/h3>\n

You can find information about Aeon on Wikipedia, but it doesn\u2019t quite capture the essence of what it means to us in Japan.<\/p>\n

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Originally, Aeon was a large supermarket chain called \u201cJusco\u201d. Imagine a three or four-story Tesco or Walmart. For us Generation X Japanese, the Jusco jingle \u201cLet\u2019s meet at Jusco\u201d is unforgettable, though many boys sang a cheeky parody of it, \u201cShoplifting at Jusco\u201d, during the 1970s. In subculture, Aeon is often contrasted with \u201cfashionable urban areas\u201d. In the Japanese movie \u201cKamikaze Girls\u201d (\u4e0b\u59bb\u7269\u8a9e),\u00a0 there\u2019s a line referencing Jusco in this context. Watching the movie will give you a sense of how it\u2019s perceived.<\/p>\n

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