FF IX Mania in Japan

Final Fantasy IX for the Sony PlayStation is finally available to consumers in Japan. The game was released on July 7 and, according to Square, the launch was a successful one. The majority of retail stores opened as early as 7am Tokyo time as patrons began forming lines the night before. Square president Hisashi Suzuki was also on hand at one of the major retailers to promote the release.

Take a look at images from stores in the Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara areas of Tokyo, leading up to and through the early morning release of FF IX. The game's US release date has not yet been determined.