There are some things in Japan so captivating and unusual they become icons talked about around the world, and two of the most well known are convenience stores and “UFO Catcher” crane games.
While these two venerated aspects of Japanese culture usually live in separate worlds without much crossover, that’s all changing now, thanks to a new initiative by convenience store chain Lawson.
The chain says it aims to install crane games at 1,000 branches nationwide by the end of 2025, and machines have already been added to a number of its stores in Japan’s Kinki region, which covers Kyoto, Nara, Shiga, Wakayama, Mie, Osaka and Hyogo prefectures. In April, Lawson began installing the UFO Catchers at some stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area, where they’ve reportedly been well received by foreign tourists.
▼ The crane games, as seen at one branch of Lawson.
According to the chain, the new initiative aims to attract more customers, with character goods being the main prizes. Sales have been particularly strong at branches in tourist areas such as Kyoto and Tokyo’s Odaiba area.
What makes the games so popular is the fact that the prizes aren’t sold in stores, so there’s no other way to purchase them, and it costs next to nothing to try them, as they’re priced at 100 yen per go.
While the UFO Catchers are helping to attract more customers for Lawson, it’s a win-win for both parties, as the amusement facilities where the games are usually installed are in steep decline due to increased operating costs. This tie-up helps to safeguard the future of crane games while bringing an extra dash of entertainment to Lawson convenience stores, and the chain says it looks forward to expanding its services and linking them with promotional campaigns in future.
Source: Mainichi Shimbun via Jin
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7 Comments
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falseflagsteve
Please make these illegal in stores where people make food purchases and only in designated gaming establishments
It just isn’t right.
Gene Hennigh
Crane games are fun. I liked them as a kid, my kid liked them as a kid, and we both still like them. The horror of having them at Lawson's. Don't let your kids pass a little time while you shop. Put the crane games in the middle of the highway, where they've always been.
lolwut
Enjoyed them as a kid, but hate them as an adult. I do want my kids to enjoy the thrill of a win, but the fact that 95% of the time they have the grip strength of a malnourished 112 year-old, I would rather just go to the 100yen shop for some little gizmo they will focus on for a couple days before forgetting about.
kohakuebisu
This article sounds like praising supermarkets for putting candy next to the checkout so that parents queuing up to pay get nagged by their kids to buy some. "More chances for people to buy delicious Hi Chew candy!"
Most stuff in UFO catchers is junk. Worse junk than typically found in gatcha gatcha machines where at least you get a prize every time. If 100 yen is "next to nothing", please use this expression the next time food price rises are reported. Perhaps plastic shopping bags could be raised to 100 yen to stop people using them. A piffling sum like 3 yen is clearly no deterrent.
TokyoLiving
Nice, love Japan crane games..