The crown jewels of the arcade industry, they occupy the building’s first two floors, relegating video games to the basement and upper levels. Claw machines are displayed at the Amusement Expo in Tokyo on Nov. 14. Photo: AFP“Crane games are keeping the sector afloat,” said Morihiro Shigihara, an industry expert and former arcade manager. The real stroke of genius “was putting plush toys in the claw games,” Bottos said. The hegemony of claw machines has also gone hand in hand with a gradual transformation of urban hangouts.

Source: Taipei Times December 27, 2025 17:12 UTC