Following a large-scale public search for Taito’s Crown 602 crane game machine which began in October 2025, the company announced on March 28 that they were unable to locate the fabled crane game machine (source: FNN Prime Online). Even after offering a 100,000 JPY prize (around $630 USD) for relevant information and receiving over 4,000 tips from across Japan, Taito’s search has ended without success. They were, however, able to locate and secure a Crown 603, which is the successor model of the 602 released a year later.
After reviewing numerous reports and clues about the 602, the closest Taito got was a Crown 603 owned by Keisuke Higano, a former restaurant owner and retro video game collector. According to Higano, he obtained the machine about 10 years ago while collecting retro game machines from all over the country. Though he knew the machine was old, he didn’t know its model and historical significance, making him all the more surprised when he found out it was a Crown 603 in his possession.
Released in 1965, the Crown 602 is believed to be Japan’s first domestic crane game machine (based on Taito’s own historical records). While its blocky body, simple beige coloring, and iconic trapezoid-shaped glass window make it stand out from today’s crane games, the fact that several machines from the 1960s copied its design makes it hard to identify a real Crown 602 from its contemporaries. The only difference between the Crown 602 and Crown 603 is the location of the coin slot. While the 602’s coin slot is located on the side of the machine, the 603’s coin slot is placed at the top for easier access.
Though Taito representatives picked up the Crown 603 on March 28 for preservation, the fact that it wasn’t the machine they were looking for means Higano was not able to receive the promised 100,000 JPY grand reward for substantial information regarding an existing Crown 602. While he was sad to see the Crown 603 leave his hands, Higano hopes that the company will keep it safe in storage for a long time.
Taito public relations representative Itsuko Sasaki had a few words to add:
“Although we were unable to locate a Crown 602, we were able to pinpoint the whereabouts of a Crown 603, which keeps our hopes alive, and we are filled with surprise and gratitude. As we read through the tips we’ve received (regarding the Crown 602), some people shared heartwarming memories of crane games. Those stories, along with the information, have become our greatest treasure.”
While Taito’s quest for the Crown 602 continues, the public search has been closed, and tip submissions on the official webpage are no longer being accepted.
