2023 Q2 Fighting Game Events in Tokyo.
It has been a while since I’ve tracked offline fighting game events in Tokyo. With the pandemic starting in 2020, most offline gatherings shut down. At the end of 2022 things were starting to come back. Generally, you can find a Wednesday night fighting game event at eXeField Akiba, the NTT e-Sports facility in the UDX Building. Red Bull Gaming Sphere also hosts events, like Tatakai Tuesdays (GGST, Tekken) that Jiyuna organizes. There is often a Thursday night night SFV event at Red Bull Gaming Sphere as well. Shot Bar Lucy (twitter) often has different events every night of the week, and special events on the weekend.
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.
This isn’t a comprehensive list, but feel free to contact me if you want me to add anything.
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 alternate Tuesdays there is a DBFZ, Tekken7, and Soul Calibur event run by Jiyuna and MajinObama at Red Bull Gaming Sphere, Map.
- On Thursdays there is usually a SFV event at Red Bull Gaming Sphere, Map or sometimes BeasTV’s Jikoken TV with Fuudo.
- Studio Sky (Map) announced on 2018-09-14 that they will be an open esports space, but haven’t been doing anything during Corona, and I haven’t seen anything about Studio Sky since 2021 basically. Hopefully they start doing stuff again sometime.
- 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. Or they did; I don’t know if that is still accurate.
- Game Bar Bridge, in Tachikawa, usually runs some fighting game stuff. Their schedule is pinned to the gbbtachikawa profile.
- 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.
| Date | Game | Event | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-12-24 | SFV 3on3 | 12th Topanga Charity Cup | Online (Twitch, YouTube) | Starts at noon. |
| 2022-12-29 | Tekken 7 | MasterCup Try Tokyo Finals | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Streaming from 11am JST YouTube, Twitch. |
| 2023-01-05 | SFV | Level Up Thursday | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | 18:00 – 22:00. |
| 2023-01-08 | GGST, Tekken 7, SFV | EVO Japan CHALLENGE 2023 in TOYAMA | Toyama somewhere | More info TBD, see toyama esports account. |
| 2023-01-09 | SFV | Good 8 Squad Summit | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Starts 13:30, ends 18:00, requires 1500 JPY ticket from Good 8 Squad store |
| 2023-01-10 | Arc System Works Games | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | During regular evening business hours. GGST, GBVS, DNF Duel, DBFZ. Table fee/drink minimum per hour applies. |
| 2023-01-14 | GGST | GGST Offline Event | eXeField Akiba Map | Sign up at Twipla, 3000 JPY 1pm – 9pm. |
| 2023-01-14 | SFV | SFV At Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | Sign up at Twipla, 3500 JPY includes soft drinks, noon – 18:00. |
| 2023-01-15 | SFV random 3on3 | PitIn Cup x Bandit | Osaka Pit-In Bar (Map) | Free, starts at noon. Tonamel. 2on2 after the random 3on3. |
| 2023-01-17 | Arc System Works Games | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | During regular evening business hours. GGST, GBVS, DNF Duel, DBFZ. Table fee/drink minimum per hour applies. |
| 2023-01-22 | SFV | 39th Platinum and Under meetup | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Sign up at Twipla, 1000 JPY noon – 7pm. |
| 2023-01-24 | Arc System Works Games | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | During regular evening business hours. GGST, GBVS, DNF Duel, DBFZ. Table fee/drink minimum per hour applies. |
| 2023-01-28 | SFV | Dog Game Streamer offline gathering (twitter) | e-verse Kanagawa (Map) | Starts at 13:00, venue fee about 600 JPY/hr |
| 2023-01-29 | Music | Street Fighter 35th Anniversary live concert | Streaming at Zaiko (info soon) | Information (get tickets in advance) |
| 2023-01-29 | SFV | SFV at Bar Usagiya | Bar Usagiya Map | Starts at 14:00, until 22:00. 3000 JPY includes soft drinks. |
| 2023-01-29 | SFV | eSports Battle in Okinawa | 1st Hall Map | Entry at the info link. |
| 2023-01-31 | Arc System Works Games | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | During regular evening business hours. GGST, GBVS, DNF Duel, DBFZ. Table fee/drink minimum per hour applies. |
| 2023-02-05 | SFV | 40th Platinum and Under meetup | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Sign up at Twipla, 1000 JPY noon – 7pm. |
| 2023-02-11 | Tekken7 | Goma-chan Tekken7 Offline Battle | TZ-Game Labs Map | Gaming from 2pm – 7pm, 1000 JPY, max 30 people. Then a fan meeting from 7pm – 9pm for 3000 JPY. |
| 2023-02-21 | GGST + various | Tatakai Tuesday | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Free, organized by JiyunaJP. Every other week usually. Doors at 18:00 usually, free. |
| 2023-02-21 | Arc System Works | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-02-22 | French Bread Games | French Bread Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-02-23 | SFV | Level Up Thursday | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Since it is a holiday, from noon to 6pm. |
| 2023-02-23 | SNK Games | SNK Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-02-24 | Tekken and various games | Tekken and various games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-02-25 | SFV | Takaoka ePark SFV tournament | Takaoka ePark, Toyama Map | SFV Tournament with guests BC Tachikawa and SNB Otani. Cash prizes: ~$750 USD for 1st, $370, $222. Brackets. Online tournament from 1pm. Free to join. You can join from Takaoka ePark too. |
| 2023-02-25 | SFV | Dog Game Streamer SFV with Okumura Mami | e-verse Kanagawa (Map) | Starts at 11:30, ends at 21:00. Please bring your own controller. 2500 yen (includes free drinks and one alcoholic beverage ticket). |
| 2023-02-25 | Samurai Spirits | Samura Spirits at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 15:00 – 21:00. Free. |
| 2023-02-28 | Arc System Works | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-01 | French Bread Games | French Bread Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-01 | GGST | GGST at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. GGST from 18:00. |
| 2023-03-01 | Smash | Weekly Smash Party | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | From the evening. |
| 2023-03-02 | SNK Games | SNK Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-02 | SFV | Level Up Thursday | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | From the evening. |
| 2023-03-03 | Tekken and various games | Tekken and various games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-03 | Smash Brothers | Reserved Smash at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. Smash from 18:00, reservation required. |
| 2023-03-04 | SFV | 41st Platinum and Under meetup (Twipla) | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Sign up at Twipla, 1000 JPY noon – 7pm. |
| 2023-03-04 | Melty Blood | Melty Blood at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | From 14:00 – 19:00. Says it is free. |
| 2023-03-06 | SFV | SFV at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. SFV from 18:00. |
| 2023-03-07 | Arc System Works | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-07 | GGST and various | Tatakai Tuesday by Jiyuna | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Usually starts between 6pm and 7pm. Free. Main game is GGST, lots of other games available. Very English friendly. Follow Jiyuna for schedule announcements (generally every other week.) |
| 2023-03-08 | French Bread Games | French Bread Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-08 | GGST | GGST at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. |
| 2023-03-09 | SNK Games | SNK Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-10 | Tekken and various games | Tekken and various games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-10 | Smash Brothers | Reserved Smash at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. Smash from 18:00, reservation required. |
| 2023-03-11 | SFV | SFV at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 14:00 – 19:00. Says it is free. |
| 2023-03-13 | SFV | SFV at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. SFV from 18:00. |
| 2023-03-14 | Arc System Works | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-15 | French Bread Games | French Bread Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-15 | GGST | GGST at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. |
| 2023-03-16 | SNK Games | SNK Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-17 | Tekken and various games | Tekken and various games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-17 | Smash Brothers | Reserved Smash at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. Smash from 18:00, reservation required. |
| 2023-03-18 | Blade Arcus | Blade Arcus at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | Noon – 18:00. Says it is free. |
| 2023-03-18 | SFV | SFV at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | SFV from 13:00 – 18:00. |
| 2023-03-18 | SFV 3on3 Same Character | Kokujin SFV 3on3 same char tournament | Online Twitch | 19:00 – 24:00, Each team has to have the same 3 characters, 3 teams per block, single elim, 1 makes it out.8 blocks, 24 teams. Entry Form. Main announcement twitter thread. |
| 2023-03-18 | SFV | Inu Cup SFV Point tournament | Online Bracket, Twitch | From 20:00. |
| 2023-03-19 | SFV | SFV at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | Noon to 18:00. Says it is free. |
| 2023-03-19 | Melty Blood | Melty Blood at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Melty Blood from 13:00 – 18:00. |
| 2023-03-18 | SFV Tournament | Kokujin SFV tournament | Online Twitch | 19:00 – end, Entry form. Winner (only!) gets 100,000 JPY (by JP bank transfer). Single Elim, FT1. 8 blocks, 96 person cap. You must live in Japan to participate and have a JP Bank Account, and be able to communicate in Japanese on Discord. Main announcement twitter thread. |
| 2023-03-20 | SFV | SFV at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. SFV from 18:00. |
| 2023-03-21 | Arc System Works | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-21 | GGST and various | Tatakai Tuesday by Jiyuna | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Usually starts between 6pm and 7pm. Free. Main game is GGST, lots of other games available. Very English friendly. Follow Jiyuna for schedule announcements (generally every other week.) |
| 2023-03-22 | French Bread Games | French Bread Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-22 | GGST | GGST at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. |
| 2023-03-23 | SNK Games | SNK Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-24 | Tekken and various games | Tekken and various games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-24 | Smash Brothers | Reserved Smash at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. Smash from 18:00, reservation required. |
| 2023-03-24 | Tekken7 | TZ Gaming Ginza #1 (Tickets) | TZ Game Labs Ginza (5th floor Tetsujin Karaoke) Map | 19:00 – 22:00, 1500 JPY for a ticket, limited to the first 30 people. |
| 2023-03-24 | GGST | Shinobism x AUGER GGST Online Tournament | Stream, Signup / Brackets | 18:00 -. 1st place gets a nice (Victrix?) arcade stick and AUGER set. 64 player cap. |
| 2023-03-25 | UNI | UNI at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | UNI from 13:00 – 18:00. |
| 2023-03-25 | SFV | Dog Game Streamer with Okumura Mami | e-verse Kanagawa (Map) | 11:30 – 21:00 2500 JPY. |
| 2023-03-25 | SFV | 27th iXA Cup | Online YouTube Stream. Bracket | Entry form. From 15:00. Double Elimination, prizes for Top 8 (Good stuff from Hiroshima). |
| 2023-03-25 | GGST | GGST Battle Party | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | 13:00 – 19:00. 500 JPY. Details at twipla, tournament from 15:00 but that is capped. |
| 2023-03-26 | KOF 15 | Beginner KOF 15 at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 15:00 to midnight. Beginners welcome! Says it is free. |
| 2023-03-26 | GGST | GGST at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | GGST from 13:00 – 18:00. |
| 2023-03-27 | SFV | SFV at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. SFV from 18:00. |
| 2023-03-27 | Tekken 7 | Casual Match Arena | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | 4pm – 10pm. |
| 2023-03-28 | Arc System Works | Arc Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-28 | GGST MBTL GBVS | Conflict | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | 16:00 – 22:00, 500 JPY. You can bring drinks in pet bottles to the venue, but must remove the label first. No food. Sign up on the twipla link. |
| 2023-03-29 | French Bread Games | French Bread Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-29 | GGST | GGST at Game Bar Bridge | Game Bar Bridge Tachikawa Map | Opens from 3pm generally. 500 yen per hour. |
| 2023-03-29 | Smash | Weekly Smash Party | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | 17:00 – 22:00. Tournament at 19:00. Sign up/brackets. 1500 JPY. |
| 2023-03-29 | Tekken 7 | Casual Match Arena | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | 11pm – March 30th 5am. Strange timing!. |
| 2023-03-30 | SNK Games | SNK Games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 19:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-30 | SFV | Dog Game Streamer with Okumura Mami | e-verse Kanagawa (Map) | 16:00 – 21:00 1500 JPY (1000 JPY after 18:00). |
| 2023-03-30 | SFV | Level Up Thursday | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | 18:00 – 22:00. |
| 2023-03-30 | Tekken 7 | TZ Gaming Ginza #2 (Tickets) | TZ Game Labs Ginza (5th floor Tetsujin Karaoke) Map | 18:45 – 22:00. 1500 JPY. |
| 2023-03-31 | Tekken and various games | Tekken and various games at Shot Bar Lucy | Shot Bar Lucy Map | 20:00 on. 500 JPY and one drink per hour. |
| 2023-03-31 | EVO | EVO JAPAN | Tokyo Big Site South Hall 1/2 Map | It’s EVO JAPAN. EVO Japan Side Events. |
| 2023-04-01 | EVO | EVO JAPAN | Tokyo Big Site South Hall 1/2 Map | It’s EVO JAPAN. EVO Japan Side Events. |
| 2023-04-02 | EVO | EVO JAPAN | Tokyo Big Site South Hall 1/2 Map | It’s EVO JAPAN. EVO Japan Side Events. |
| 2023-04-01 | USF4 3on3 side tournament | Starting Over -Revenge- | Tokyo Big Site South Hall 1/2 Map | Meet at 14:30, starts at 15:00. Timing is very tight, be on time. 1000 per person (3000 ppl per team). Single Elimination. Stream. |
| 2023-04-03 | GGST | International Offline Team Battle | Tokyo Tower Red Map | Mocchi is organizing it, I’m not sure of anything else. Stream. |
| 2023-04-04 | GGST and various | Tatakai Tuesday by Jiyuna | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Usually starts between 6pm and 7pm. Free. Main game is GGST, lots of other games available. Very English friendly. Follow Jiyuna for schedule announcements (generally every other week.) |
| 2023-04-16 | SFV | 42nd Platinum and Under meetup (Twipla) | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Sign up at Twipla, 1000 JPY noon – 7pm. |
| 2023-04-22 | GGST | BUZZ e-sports GGST (Twipla) | BUZZ e-sports Map | 13:00 – 19:00, tournament at 15:00. 2000 JPY. Sign up at Twipla. 10 setsup total (PS4pro, PS5, steam). Arcade sticks are available to lend out. |
| 2023-04-22 | Various | G-Star Gaming Fan Meet | e Sports Field Map | Open 12:30, start at 13:00. 2000 JPY ticket for viewing, 5000 JPY to play games with them as well. Tickets are first come first serve, so get them quick. |
| 2023-05-07 | SFV | 43rd Platinum and Under meetup (Twipla) | Red Bull Gaming Sphere Map | Sign up at Twipla, 1000 JPY noon – 7pm. |
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