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There are few characters you could call as symbolic of the 90s as Sonic The Hedgehog. He’s a character that screams all the highs of that era. From his loud color scheme to his stylish, attitude-filed poses and compulsive need to go fast.
Thanks to our friends at SEGA, we got to visit the home of the blue streak himself- SEGA Headquarters, located in Tokyo. We were brought to the SEGA History area- a section literally watched over by a statue of Sonic The Hedgehog, with rooms themed on SEGA’s long history.
Themed after iconic parts of the history like UFO Catcher, Virtua Fighter and the SEGA Master System, this fanservice wasn’t doled out in name only- outside, in glass cases were displays celebrating SEGA’s tenure in video games too. As you walk along the halls, you realize just how much history you can cram into over 60 years. Seeing consoles younger audiences might only have heard their favorite YouTubers mention in passing in the flesh was a special kind of feeling. After all, these weren’t cool commemorative goods made to look like the SEGA Saturn or Mega Drive- these were the actual consoles, in the flesh.
Nostalgia probably hit its peak with the Game Gear- though not as often-discussed as SEGA’s home consoles, the Game Gear was ahead of its time- sporting colored display and even its own 8-bit Sonic The Hedgehog that you could take with you and play on those long car drives . Seeing a big part of handheld gaming history there without a single battery leak stain on it
It’s not just game consoles, either- there were little dioramas celebrating various iconic titles as well, including one particularly charming one for the SEGA UFO Catcher and, of course, Sonic The Hedgehog himself.
Once we’d left the SEGA History exhibit, we were taken to the main reception area for guests. Themed after a ship , this area was somehow cozy and massive at the same time, complete with the waiting area in the shape of a ship’s cabin. Here, meeting rooms were themed after popular port cities all around the world- alphabetically coded too, for your convenience.
Of course, sailing into the future was one thing- but this area also had plenty to honor SEGA’s past too. Vintage arcade machines, including Virtua Cop and OutRun sit proudly in the reception area, though with signs reminding you that their presence is not, in fact, an invitation to try them out (it’s a good way to keep them being here, you see).
It was kind of strange seeing these arcade machines- I remember seeing them in my own childhood in the past, but here they’re just out in the open for everyone to see (and not blasting loud sound effects everywhere). Despite that, the excellent maintenance meant they looked just as bright and vibrant as the day they entertained kids (and the occasional adult) all those years ago.
In the area also proudly sits the perfect symbol of the SEGA SAMMY Group- Sonic The Hedgehog and the Sammy mascot side-by-side. It’s kinda cool to see them just hanging out there- they’re both kind of dripping with 90s attitude.
Our final stop, though, was the SEGA cafeteria. This is the perfect place for you to unwind, with a great selection of food between your busy day of making beloved games. Unlike many cafeterias though, it sports a few extras- there’s a bar at the back of the cafeteria, complete with dark wood tables and leather chairs to make you feel like you were about to win big at Poker with a deck of Super Monkey Ball cards.
If you just needed a spot to ruminate on your day, though, there’s plenty for you there, too. The cafeteria also sports a cafe area, complete with coffee makers, tables and even books to read as you contemplate your day.
It was really cool to visit where the magic happens. After all, it’s not every day you have a studio old enough that you can have a whole floor dedicated to that career.
One detail I especially liked was the Sonic statues- it feels like every Sonic on display was from a different era, from the smaller one at the SEGA History section to the more modern-proportioned one in the reception area. Again, you don’t hear of many brands that get to be around enough to change as much as SEGA has, so it’s even cooler to see those changes immortalized through its mascot.
Visitors wanting to take a memory home with them aside from photos could even go to the SEASIDE SHOP, which features merch from popular SEGA titles as well as acrylic stands of one Segata Sanshiro himself- SEGA’s live action mascot for the SEGA SATURN.
Our thanks to SEGA for the opportunity to check out their HQ in Tokyo, especially ahead of the busy TGS period just a few days later. You can also check out our coverage of SEGA’s upcoming titles like Sonic Frontiers and Like A Dragon: Ishin!
