Our Story
① Childhood Dream
As a child, the Neo Geo AES felt out of reach.
It was far too expensive for me to own,
so I played on a Neo Geo CD instead.
But the AES was always the console I dreamed about.
Back then,
I had never even seen one in person.
② Finally Owning One
When Neo Geo X was released, I seriously considered buying one. But at the time, as a student, it still felt a little too expensive for me.
Years later, when Neo Geo Mini was released, I bought one immediately. I even bought an arcade stick for it.
But somehow, it still didn't feel like the Neo Geo I had dreamed of.
That only made me want a real AES even more. And eventually, I finally owned one.
③ The Disappointment
In my 30s, I finally got my hands on a real AES. It had been more than 20 years since I first dreamed about owning one. But when it arrived, it was dirty, smelled of mold, and barely worked. Even touching the power cable would reset the console. The console I had admired for so many years had clearly not been cared for. That feeling became the starting point for everything I do today.
④ The Turning Point
At first,
I simply wanted to make the AES look beautiful again.
I cleaned the shell,
washed the parts,
and carefully cleaned the cartridge contacts.
Even those small steps
slowly brought the console back to life.
I still remember the feeling
of seeing the AES finally begin to look
the way I had imagined it for so many years.
Old doesn't have to mean dirty.
I started to believe that,
with proper care,
these consoles could continue to be enjoyed for many more years.
⑤ What We Do Today
That experience eventually led me to begin selling carefully restored Neo Geo systems on eBay under the name WAKU WAKU R Work Shop.
Today, WAKU WAKU R Work Shop continues to serve customers through both our eBay store and our independent online store at wakuwaku-r-shop.com.
Because of those experiences, every AES console I sell is carefully cleaned, inspected, and tested.
Many systems today are treated as if "old means dirty" is simply normal.
But I believe the AES is something special that deserves to be preserved properly.
I know many people buying an AES today once dreamed about owning one, just like I did.
That's why I work carefully on every console — so that dream never feels broken when it finally arrives.
⑥ Closing
The AES was something I dreamed about for many years.
That's why I want people who have long admired the AES — just like I once did — to experience it the way it was truly meant to be, not with disappointment.
I don't believe "it's old, so it can't be helped."
With proper care and attention, I believe these consoles can continue to be enjoyed for many years to come.
