January 13, 2021
Q1 Fighting game events in or around Tokyo
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Seems like I've gotten into the habit of tracking FGC offline events in the Tokyo area. This isn't a comprehensive list, but feel free to contact me if you want me to add anything. You also should try TopTier.gg which tracks fighting game locals around the world.
Very generally:
- eXeFIELD Akiba (Map) is a venue in the UDX Building in Akihabara. Wednesday nights are generally fighting game nights, and Thursday they do Soul Calibur now. Friday evenings you get a beer ticket with entry and can get beer with that.
- On Tuesdays there is a DBFZ, Tekken7, and Soul Calibur event run by Jiyuna and MajinObama at Red Bull Gaming Sphere, Map. It is actually officially sponsored as well!
- On Thursdays there is usually a SFV event at Red Bull Gaming Sphere, Map or sometimes BeasTV's Jikoken TV with Fuudo. These haven't happened during Corona though.
- Studio Sky (Map) announced on 2018-09-14 that they will be an open esports space, but haven't been doing anything during Corona.
- Shot Bar Lucy has different events on different days, and usually on Friday night is an all-night event featuring various games (Map), Calendar.
- The Plaza Capcom at Kichijoji (Map) has the Capcom eSPORTS Club which has free SFV setups, and often runs events.
- Game Bar Cross-up in Umeda, Osaka (Map) usually does SFV on Tuesday, Guilty Gear and BlazBlue on Wednesday, and KOF14 on Thursday.
- Game Bar Bridge, in Tachikawa, usually runs some fighting game stuff. Their schedule is pinned to the gbbtachikawa profile.
- Check Gaijin Gaming Brothers for information about Smash related events in Japan. I add Tokyo based events to my list, but they track events all over Japan with English information.
- Syogepi-events has a Google Calendar of his events. He often runs platinum and under begginer friendly events. They have an English based guide to participating in their events.
The arcade scene is vibrant, and you are likely to find competition at any arcade, but some are more well known than others. You might want to check out
- Mikado Arcade, Map Takadanobaba
- Taito Station Shinjuku East Exit, Map
- Various arcades in Akihabara, Club Sega, Hey!
- Various shops in Akihabara like the retro game store Super Potato, Map
- Play Spot Big One 2nd, Map. Out in Chiba, but good place for 3rd Strike or Melty Blood. (Thanks Arlieth!)
- Game Newton, Map. Lots of ST setups.
If you are comfortable with Japanese, Kakuge-checker.com has a comprehensive list of offline, online, and other events going around all over Japan. I don't know how he/they/she does it.
Due to concerns around COVID-19, most large recurring events have been cancelled until further notice. Be careful out there.
Kakuge-checker.com has a list of online events, if you are interested in those.
| Date | Game | Event | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooperation Cup | ||||
| Cooperation Cup | ||||
| 2021-01-09 Sat. | SFV | Aim the CHUBAR -Light- qual1 | Online (Mildom) | 17:00 -. 64 player single elimination. The Wave Gaming runs eSports events and is based out of Okinawa. |
| 2021-01-16 Sat. | GBVS / Shadowverse / Secret | Takaoka Esports Cup | Online (TBD) | 10:00 - 16:00 for GBVS, 32 person cap, ~ $2500 prize pool. 10:00 - 18:00 for Shadowverse, ~$2500 prize pool, limited to people in the Hokushinetsu region, 64 person cap. Takaoka ePark is an eSports facility in Toyama-ken, Takaoka city. These are both season 1, and there will be 4 events in the season. There is a "secret" game (title not announced) with an ~ $5000 prize pool too. |
| 2021-01-16 Sat. | SFV | CAPCON eSPORTS CLUB Ranking Battle | Online (YouTube) | 15:00 -. Women's tournament from 15:00, and an open tournament from 17:00. |
| 2021-01-16 Sat. | DBFZ | Go-1 Baby only tournament | Online (Mildom) | 15:00 -. 128 player double elimination FT2 (WF, LF, GF FT3) each team needs to have at least one Baby, the other characters are free. Only for JP residents (Sorry Tyrant, Damascus!) Bracket on Tonamel. |
| 2021-01-16 Sat. | SFV | 3rd REDEE On-line Cup | Online (YouTube) | 13:00 -. 128 player single elimination. Brackets on Tonamel. I don't know much about REDEE Gaming, they say they are the largest eSports Facility in Japan with their Osaka shop. |
| 2021-01-16 Sat. | SFV | Aim the CHUBAR -Light- qual2 | Online (Mildom) | 17:00 -. 64 player single elimination. The Wave Gaming runs eSports events and is based out of Okinawa. |
| 2021-01-17 Sun. | DBFZ 2on2 | Go-1 Cup | Online (Mildom) | 15:00 -. Double elimination 64 team 2on2. Japan residents only (sorry Tyrant, Damascus!) Brackets at Tonamel. |
| 2021-01-17 Sun. | SFV | FAV Cup Mini | Online (YouTube) | ??? TBD, but should be in the afternoon sometime. These are always great events - Itabashi Zangief had a run where he won six in a row - only recently stopped in the last one by Higuchi. |
| 2021-01-18 Mon. | SFV | Welcome to all Rookies! | Online (Capcom Fighters JP) | 20:00 -. A new series of online ranking battles for JP Rookies. No further details announced yet. There should be content aimed at beginners including lessons by pro players and other stuff. |
| 2021-01-20 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. |
| 2021-01-21 Thu. | SFV | JikokenTV Diamond and Under | Online (Twitch) | 21:00 -. Fuudo hosts tournaments as part of his JikokenTV series. This is for Diamond and Under. |
| 2021-01-23 Sat. | SFV | CAPCON eSPORTS CLUB Ranking Battle | Online (YouTube) | 15:00 -. Women's tournament from 15:00, and an open tournament from 17:00. |
| 2021-01-23 Sat. | SFV | Aim the CHUBAR -Light- Finals | Online (Mildom) | 17:00 -. Top 8 from the two previous qualifiers. ~$300 for the winner, and $200 for 2nd place. The Wave Gaming runs eSports events and is based out of Okinawa. |
| 2021-01-23 Sat. | BBTAG | King of Giant Festival | Online (Mildom) | 14:00 -. Double elimination, 128 player cap. Brackets. |
| 2021-01-23 Sat. | SFV | CAPCON eSPORTS CLUB Ranking Battle | Online (YouTube) | 15:00 -. Women's tournament from 15:00, and an open tournament from 17:00. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-01-25 Mon. | SFV | Welcome to all Rookies! | Online (Capcom Fighters JP) | 20:00 -. A new series of online ranking battles for JP Rookies. No further details announced yet. There should be content aimed at beginners including lessons by pro players and other stuff. |
| 2021-01-25 Mon. | SFV Pocky | Pocky KO Grand Championship | Online (Twitch) | 15:00 -. The people who submitted Pocky KO entries get a chance to face off against RobTV to decide the Worldwide Pocky KO Champion! |
| 2021-01-26 Tue. | DBFZ | Fighting Tuesday DBFZ | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Double Elimination. Sign up by 19:00 day of. Check out the discord. The largest weekly DBFZ tournament in the world is back and online? |
| 2021-01-27 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-01-27 Wed. | UNIcl-r | Shot Bar Lucy UNIcl-r online | Online (YouTube) | 19:00 -. 23:00. 4 separate rooms (beginner, intermediate, advanced, all levels). Join their discord server. Please be able to communicate in Japanese since that is what everyone will be using. |
| 2021-01-30 Sat. | SFV | Street Fighter League Pro JP Finals | Online (Pay per view Zaiko) | 12:00 -. The Street Fighter League Pro:JP 2020 finals will be streamed on a pay per view service live, and then 2021-02-06 will stream on Twitch/YouTube/Mildom/Periscope for free. I've got my ticket (about $10) so I'll watch it live. |
| 2021-01-30 Sat. | SFV | A Bread-Maker's Bread Tournament | Online (YouTube) | 21:00 -. 32 player single elimination. Winner get bread. Go get that bread! |
| 2021-01-30 Sat. | GBVS / Shadowverse / Secret | Takaoka Esports Cup | Online (TBD) | 10:00 -. 16:00 for GBVS, 32 person cap, ~ $2500 prize pool. 10:00 - 18:00 for Shadowverse, ~$2500 prize pool, limited to people in the Hokushinetsu region, 64 person cap. Takaoka ePark is an eSports facility in Toyama-ken, Takaoka city. These are both season 1, and there will be 4 events in the season. There is a "secret" game (title not announced) with an ~ $5000 prize pool too. |
| 2021-01-31 Sat. | SFV | CAPCON eSPORTS CLUB Ranking Battle | Online (YouTube) | 15:00 -. Women's tournament from 15:00, and an open tournament from 17:00. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-01-31 Sat. | SFV | Yoshimoto Gaming G-Tune Cup | Online (Mildom) | 13:00 -. The G-Tune cups have good prizes (a G-Tune EM-Z Gaming PC), and high participation. Nanai is on commentary with Haitani and Kawano. Sign up here if you are comfortable with Japanese. |
| 2021-02-03 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-02-06 Sat. | SFV | Street Fighter League Pro JP Finals | Online (Twitch, YouTube) | 12:00 -. Free re-stream. The Street Fighter League Pro:JP 2020 finals will be streamed on a pay per view service live, and then 2021-02-06 will stream on Twitch/YouTube/Mildom/Periscope for free. I've got my ticket (about $10) so I'll watch it live. |
| 2021-02-10 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-02-14 Sun. | SFV | Beast Cup | Online (Mildom) | 10:00 -. 21:00. A beginner focused tournament, team 7 on 7, with a Gekokujo rule (underdog overthrowing a higher leader) to make things more interesting. Broadcast from Red Bull Gaming Sphere Tokyo, PS4 or PC version, single elimination. Must be under 6500 League Points as a single entry, or under 3500 LP if you enter as a group of 2 or more, or if you have 5 people only under 5500 points and the organizers will provide 2 more people. Beast Cup Underdog rule. A special rule that lets you come back even from four losses down. If you have 4 losses at the start of the 5th or 6th match, there is an Extra Round (EX). The last person to win on the underdog team plays, and the person from the winning team in the round after the last win for the losers plays. Regardless of the outcome of the EX round, the final 6th and 7th rounds take place. If the underdog team wins all three of the EX, 6th and 7th battles, they get a come-from-behind victory and win! |
| 2021-02-17 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-02-24 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-03-03 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-03-10 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Asia Exhibitions. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. Smash.gg. |
| 2021-03-17 Wed. | Tekken7 | Intercontinental Fight Club Asia | Online (Twitch) | 20:00 -. Asia Finals. Your man Majin Obama is out there saving the Tekken Asia Scene with the ten/0 peeps. Smash.gg. |