A seemingly 'lost' arcade version of NanaOn-Sha and Sony's PS1 rhythm game Um Jammer Lammy has been discovered after years of searching.
Released in Japanese arcades back in 1999, as part of a collaboration between Namco and Sony, the arcade version of the PaRappa the Rapper spin-off (titled Um Jammer Lammy NOW!) was said to feature updated graphics and new songs in addition to the original playlist. However, very little footage of it has surfaced over the last two decades, apart from snippets from old Japanese TV shows (that you can watch here and here).
Recently, however, a redditor named u/R7CrazyCanucks posted that they had been in contact with someone who had the rare machine in their possession and better yet, that they'd be willing to dump the ROM online to ensure it's preserved for future generations. They even posted a clip of the machine, showcasing the new continue screen with Joe Chin and stage 1 featuring Rammy. Another user named u/Fireandironisaplace then posted a longer version of the footage not long after, which included a video of the attract screen.
It's a remarkable find and a testament to the hard work of the game's community (particularly the UJL Search Effort Discord) and the selflessness of its current owner. The identity of this owner is currently unknown, but there are some who speculate it may be the British celebrity Jonathan Ross due to this recent exchange on Twitter. Given Ross's knack for collecting obscure and interesting items, we really wouldn't put it past him.