Taito Restores 1966 Crown 603 Crane Game for Amusement Expo 2026
The machine, returned to working order after about 60 years, will be shown at Tokyo Big Sight on November 6-7, according to game.watch.impress.co.jp.
Taito unveiled its restored Crown 603 crane game at a media briefing at its Tokyo headquarters on October 28, 2026. The company said the machine, which it released in 1966 and describes as one of the oldest domestically made crane games, has been made playable again after about 60 years, according to game.watch.impress.co.jp.
Taito TECH, the company's maintenance and support division, carried out the restoration. The machine was obtained from an individual owner and arrived with dust, deteriorated wiring and scattered parts, the company said. No original parts or blueprints remained in-house, so staff repaired faults and restored the cabinet and acrylic decorations.
In operation, the Crown 603 is controlled with two buttons, and the crane always starts above the prize chute at the front left. It has no speaker and plays no music or sound effects, only the noise of its motor. The crane runs on AC motors, with speed for vertical, horizontal and lowering movement adjusted by volume knobs.
The restored machine will be shown at Taito's booth at Amusement Expo 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight on November 6-7.
Earlier search for the Crown 602
In 1965, Taito released the Crown 602, described as possibly Japan's first crane game. Since October 2025, the company had run a project to find one, receiving 4,400 reports from across Japan without locating a machine. The Crown 603 was later found and transferred to Taito by an individual owner.
Quick answers
When and where can the restored Crown 603 be seen?
It will be exhibited at Taito's booth at Amusement Expo 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight on November 6-7.
What is the Crown 603?
A crane game Taito released in 1966, which the company describes as one of the oldest domestically made crane games.
How is the Crown 603 controlled?
With two buttons; the crane starts above the prize chute at the front left and has no music or sound effects.