Taito restores 1966 Crown 603 crane game, to show it at AMUSEMENT EXPO2026
The machine, rebuilt by Taito's TAITO TECH division, is back in operation about 60 years after its release and will be displayed on November 6 and 7.
Taito unveiled its restored Crown 603 crane game on October 28, and will display the machine at its booth at AMUSEMENT EXPO2026 on November 6 and 7, according to japan.cnet.com.
The restoration was carried out by TAITO TECH, the company's technical division. Wiring that had degraded with age was rebuilt and the exterior was repaired, and the machine was successfully put back into operation about 60 years after it first ran.
Taito said Crown 603 will also appear at various events and exhibitions after the expo.
From a search for Crown 602 to a working Crown 603
Taito released Crown 603 in 1966 as the successor to Crown 602, which the company describes as Japan's first domestically made crane game and which it launched in 1965, when the firm was still named Taito Trading.
In 2025, Taito ran a nationwide search project called "#FindCrown602!" asking the public for information about the earlier model. The search did not turn up a Crown 602, but Taito located an existing Crown 603, acquired it and restored it.
Quick answers
When and where can the restored Crown 603 be seen?
Taito will show it at its booth at AMUSEMENT EXPO2026 on November 6 and 7, and at various events and exhibitions afterwards.
Who restored the Crown 603?
The restoration was handled by TAITO TECH, Taito's technical division, which rebuilt aged wiring and repaired the exterior.