✨Game Center Wai Wai✨

Visitors to WaiWai can experience an old-school arcade culture, the kind that can only be found at small, family-run establishments. Co-founder Masaomi Yoshii is a pioneering figure in the arcade industry, remaining active at the age of 81. He operated three arcades before WaiWai, and is recognized as a pioneer for organizing tournaments for Street Fighter (1987) and its series, gathering 64 players every weekend at a time when the internet was virtually nonexistent. Before running his own arcades, he built his foundation working for Namco (then known as Nakamura Manufacturing Company). His son Jun, who previously worked at SNK (NEO GEO) from 1995 to 2001, continues to support his father's lifelong dedication to arcade culture. WaiWai is a place for everyone who shares that same passion.

This is Masaomi's second arcade callled Space Fantasy, the place where he held his very first Street Fighter tournaments, building the format through trial and error. He continued organizing events, and the community grew gradually, and when Street Fighter II was released in 1991, things exploded — 64 players were showing up at this spot every weekend, and several TV crews came to cover the excitement. This video was recorded in 1992, capturing the scene at its peak.