Japans Senior Citizens Flock To Arcades

FUKUOKA, Japan -- News from Japan indicates that arcades are rapidly gaining in popularity among that country's older generation. According to one report in the Japan Times, the "oldsters" are abandoning such traditional pursuits as origami for videogames and skill cranes. Increasingly, arcades are hot spots for seniors who socialize and play coin-op games, the paper said.

Japan's arcade operators are taking notice. Eager to replace younger players lost to smartphone apps and home consoles, some operators have made changes to their venues to attract the oldsters. Alterations include setting up benches in the arcade so patrons can sit and chat, as well as replacing traditional plush in skill cranes with more practical prizes like foodstuffs and cooking oil. And some game manufacturers, Capcom among them, have outreach programs aimed at senior citizens.

Whether this trend will spread to the U.S. still remains to be seen. What isn't in doubt is that Japan's arcade operators have successfully found a new and surprising demographic.