Ariake GYM-EX will be the venue.As of 8:30 a.m., there was a long line waiting to get in.
Japan’s largest fighting game tournament “EVO Japan 2024 presented by ROHTO” (hereinafter referred to as “EVO Japan 2024”) is being held at Ariake GYM-EX in Tokyo for three days from April 27th to 29th (holiday).
“EVO Japan 2024” begins
This event is a must-see for fighting game fans, as it not only features fierce battles between the seven main titles, but also side events and company booths run by volunteers. This time, we would like to share with you a YouTuber/monk who will also be participating in the main tournament of Street Fighter 6 (hereinafter referred to as Street Fighter 6) at “EVO Japan 2024” as a player, and the excitement of the venue.
A monk in training with 36,000 YouTube subscribers (as of April 26, 2024). He loves “STR6” and fights to the death in the “bottom layer” of the Master League.
You can also compete against pros, sign autograph sessions, and try out new games!Activities coveted by fighting game fans
The monk took a walk around the “EVO Japan 2024″ venue before meeting up with the editorial staff. This is his first time participating in a fighting game tournament, both on and off, and he can’t hide his excitement as a fighting game fan, saying, “It’s really fun just watching other people compete.”
The competition venue is filled with excitement.Qiddiya Legend Lounge: People, people, people surrounding his gaming cabinet, where applause and cheers erupt after the game.
One of the booths that these monks are paying attention to is the Qiddiya Legend Lounge. On the first day, autograph sessions with top players such as Daigo Umehara and Tokido, as well as competitions with professionals, were held, and the gallery seats were of course fully booked. There was also a crowd of Kuroyama people outside the booth, and a monk-in-training said, “I wanted Mr. Umehara’s autograph…! I couldn’t make it in time today, so if I get a chance tomorrow, I’ll line up.”
A Street Fighter 6 autograph session will be held at Qiddiya Legend Lounge on the first day.Top professionals such as Daigo Umehara also participated.
Next we headed to the SNK booth. “I have a lot of attachment to the Fatal Fury series,” says the monk, so he can’t miss the opportunity to play “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” for the first time at the same booth. However, as the title is extremely popular, there was a line in front of the booth and a sign saying “wait 120 minutes to try”. Since he was scheduled to participate in the main tournament after this, the monk-in-training shrugged his shoulders and exclaimed, “Damn! It’s gone!”
A monk cries tears at the popularity of the “Shit!” trial version. A trial corner for “Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves” is now available at the SNK booth.
You may meet people for the first time in real life… EVO Japan is a place for interaction
Also, on my way to the booth I was looking for, I encountered Mr. Tachikawa, a professional fighting gamer. Mr. Tachikawa also seems to be watching the streams of monks in training, and the monks can’t hide their surprise, saying, “Professionals are right in front of me.I can’t believe I have an opportunity like this.”
I encountered Mr. Tachikawa, a professional fighting gamer, at the venue.
Cosplayers of fighting game characters were also walking around the venue, making it feel like a fighting game cultural festival. The new voice actor Hiro and his girlfriend Hiro, who have a close relationship with the monk, are dressed as AKI, a new character from Street Fighter 6, and the high quality of their work can be seen in the photos, with passersby commenting, “It’s very complete”, “ I’m excited,” he said with admiration.
Commemorative photo with Hiroto, a new voice actor dressed in an AKI costume!Josui Chiba showed off her stunning cosplay as Blanka from “Street Fighter” at a place for fans to interact with each other.
There was also a scene where the monk himself was greeted by a visitor who was watching him exchanging greetings and asked, “Are you a monk in training?” It is the largest event in Japan where people who love fighting game culture gather together, and it was also a lively place for fans to communicate with each other.
The excitement on the first day was even praised by the monks in training.
And, after all, the star of the show is the battles that take place throughout the venue. In addition to the main tournament battles, the main stage’s large vision features alternate game battle screens. Many participants gather for side events such as competitions and tournaments hosted by volunteer communities, and the gallery surrounding the venue looks like a gigantic game center. Even the monks stopped here and there to admire the movements of the characters on the screen and the ability of the players to control them.
A monk watches the trend of the match with the “Vega-dachi” spectator etiquette that has been passed down to fighting gamers since ancient times.The heated battle is projected on the main stage.
In addition to the ones introduced above, “EVO JAPAN 2024″ has a large number of photo spots, Akecon Museum, official product sales corners, etc. that you can spend all day and still not be able to find everything. In a previous interview, the monk said, “I feel like I’m participating in a festival or a cultural festival,” and said, “I want to share the feeling that “Stove 6 is fun” with my friends who love “Stove 6.” It’s going to be a great place!”, he said, expressing his approval on the excitement of the first day.