Nowadays' Japanese arcades are not like the ones GP is describing, most players don't interact with each other directly anymore.

Notable exceptions are places like Mikado centers that organize tournaments and keep the old flame alive.

I don't think the culture is the same due to cabinets having network capabilities now, but I do think it's possible.

At the taito station in Akihabara, I've met tourists a few times when I was in town for a large tournament (EVO Japan) and made friends from it. I've also had people watching me play, but unfortunately I don't speak Japanese.

I know there's a few arcades that still have some street fighter III: third strike cabinets with regulars. I can't speak for other games but at least for street fighter, people are almost always open and friendly.

I was there 2 years ago. I went inside one of the multi storey gaming places in Akihabara. The old school (90's and older) era games are a small section in one floor when there is 6 storeys of gaming.