Crane Game Secrets Revealed: Japan's UFO Catcher Academy ★ ONLY in JAPAN

It's time to head to a Japanese Game Center dedicated to UFO CATCHERS also known as the CRANE GAME.
Glass boxes with pinchers you can control to win all sorts of treasure - if you have the skills and experience to do it.
In this episode of ONLY in JAPAN, John Daub travels to Saitama with Bob Werley from Pirates of Tokyo Bay and Alan Welch, producer of MY LIFE JAPAN to earn a diploma in CRANE GAME TECHNIQUES 101 from the Official Japan Crane Game Association.
It's the intro course at Game Center Everyday which also is the Guinness World Record holder for having the most crane games in one location. That's right! This place is the center of Japan (and the world's) crane game insanity! Not only can you win a lot of stuff, you can take their course.
Crane Game Skills (or Cheats) learned in this episode:
★ The Niagara Falls Method
★ The Triangle Method
★ The Overturned Table Method
★ The Hole Hook Method
and many more (* if you watch closely).
About the Japan Crane Game Association Certification / Diploma:
There are 3 levels available for certification.
Level 3 (Bachelors) 5,000 yen / 2 hours / Max. 10 People
Level 2 (Masters) 10,000 yen / 2 hours / Max. 10 People
Level 1 (Doctorate) 25,000 yen
We finished Level 3 in this episode which taught us 12 tips / skills in total with instruction and trial with a professional.
URL:
Everyday UFO Catcher Amusement / Game Center, Gyoda, Saitama
ufo-everyday.com/
Address: 埼玉県行田市下忍６４４ｰ１
Telephone: [phone]
Nearest Station: Fukiage Station (JR Takasaki Line from Ueno)　
Take a taxi (1000 yen) for 5-10 minutes to the game center. Google Map from Train Station to "Sekai Ichi no Game Center EVERYDAY" : goo.gl/maps/2a...
Pirates of Tokyo Bay
The best Bilingual Comedy Group in Tokyo!
Website: piratesoftokyob...
On KZbin: / mtstaffa
My Life Japan
Directed and Produced by Alan Welch
/ mylifejapantv
Website: mylifejapan.tv
JAPAN CRANE GAME ASSOCIATION
URL: kuretatsu.com/ (Japanese only)
* Info on certification, scheduling and machines in Japan
Music:
Thank you to the super talented TEKNOAXE
/ teknoaxe
All business inquiries :[e-mail]
We at WAO-RYU! ONLY in JAPAN will continue to introduce the amazing Japanese food and tradition through the eyes of foreigners in high-quality documentaries.
Many great things about Japan, which even Japanese people didn't know are introduced
Thank you very much for your continuous support!
WAO-RYU! ONLY in JAPANでは外国人の視点でアメイジングな日本の歴史や食べ物などをハイクオリティーなドキュメンタリーで紹介し、
日本も知らない日本の魅力を伝えていきます。
みなさまの応援よろしくお願いします。
【ビジネス関連のお問い合わせは　[e-mail]へ】

[@chuuu4610]

That guy is basically the crane god though. Also... god bless Japan, they neatly stack good quality toys instead of cramming tons of garbage toys in a tangled pile.

[@dillanurshadrina4137]

" you can actually win this stuff... If you have the skill" this hit me hard.

[@jazmin6098]

the prizes are so high quality, its so nice and refreshing for a change. and you actually have fun playing it

[@destinyedwards4762]

This is why I love Japan.

[@ClawTuber]

Japans crane games are really different compared to the US ones!!

[@dustinz.2139]

Finally a crane game video with ACTUAL tips and methods! Thank you!

[@Spinomaks]

Justin Z. You copied the one and only Justin Y!

[@CologneCarter]

Doesn't help me much. Cranes here have three highly polished metal hooks a lot smaller than then the ones seen in the video. A different strategy would be necessary to win anything ever.

[@dustinz.2139]

CologneCarter well I guess so, you must have different crane games in your state but it’s the most helpful one I’ve found for myself so far

[@pickledjho6879]

to the guy with the alien costume i respect you for your efforts

[@robincoan]

"The instructor overturns the bear in one try" Shiba plush is like what bear???

[@HappyInJapan]

Cheers for sticking it out in the rain! Really glad to see more TV level content on YT. Can't wait for more.

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

+Happy In Japan Haha! You noticed that! It just seemed better to shoot the opening away from the machines. Easier for people visiting to also know what the exterior looks like. Thank you for calling the show TV Level. I try my best with the editing. -John

[@heirofsugar]

interveiwer: and it says in your resume that you graduated at the age of 14? impressive me: yes, i had a master degree in crane games

[@mercronniel3122]

Three grown men almost childishly happy at winning a few toys at a Crane Game. Loved it.

[@kiwisparkle1014]

( >w

[@PM-hz5jy]

This is uncomfortable to watch but I need to learn how to win

[@kekutougame]

"Grab it from the rear, and it will be easier to steer." Excellent post-date advice.

[@lilly-maemartins3396]

The red cat that got stuck on the claw is technically yours. You just have to flag down a staff member and they will get it out for you :) No worries!

[@ferndude4901]

"glass boxes filled with... STUFF!" Such description 10/10

[@DrownedInGames]

I feel like I'm watching one of those corny learning videos with bad acting played in schools to teach you something

[@johndotto2773]

And I love it.

[@TheCraneCouple]

Still one of our favorite UFO catcher videos! We enjoy the few arcades in the US that have UFO catchers, but the prizes in the machines over in Japan look way cooler!

[@DollFishu2]

My Dad would go nuts at these crane games. When he has his sight on something he sure as hell gets it. I need to get him over there so he can catch me some Jibanyans and BAR Kiraware Yasai plushies xD

[@divinefemininity7807]

+DollFishu the jibanyans were SUPER cute!

[@cherri_tsuuuu]

way to go dads

[@MrMendel12]

Beware if going for the "Niagra Falls" method - a sneaky (and understandable, they have to control payout rates somehow on a game with so much freedom to win a lot in one go) method they use is to tuck the "tag" of the doll underneath a mountain of other dolls, so even if it looks like one is loose near the top it's actually pretty solidly stuck inside the pack.

[@Anugrah_Amriza]

MrMendel12 That technique is a guaranteed success on Claw Machine that sells small kitkat bars. Because it is not that of a loss to the Arcade for just some snacks. The Big fish of Crane games i mostly see in Japan are the figures. Figures has a Variety of weight to them, by picking one up in a store that sells the figures, i noticed that it would be impossible for the crane's claws to lift the figure because most crane claws are set to lower or way higher than normal...

[@spacebug30]

Seems like the Japanese UFO catcher are a lot more about strategy, whereas Western claw games are often just pure luck (like they set a certain interval of when the claw actually grabs strong).

[@rig85]

I love UFO catchers in Japan. I took a trip in 2010, and spent a ton of money in them. What's great about UFO catchers (unlike US claws) is that it's ALL SKILL! They don't weaken the catchers, they don't put impossible to get prizes in, and they actually *want* you to win. In the video where the cat was hanging but didn't fall into the chute, all you have to do is go grab an employee and they'll get the prize out for you. (That counts as a win.) I came home with a ton of anime figures and wall scrolls, as those are what I preferred. Can't wait to go back and play again sometime.

[@clawquest]

+Rig You should check out my channel I make claw machine and arcade game videos every single week in the USA which are very similar to these UFO catchers

[@xyanide1986]

Game tip: the machines that are in less popular areas (e.g. outside Akiba) are set to be a bit more fair. My personal experience was with a figure box between the silicon coated rods type. In Akiba the rods were a lot closer together than in a Club Sega in Okachimachi. Experience tip: Just before midnight closing time in Akiba, go to the crane floor of an arcade and walk around with the ocean of sound of hundreds of these machines blaring in the night, it's quite something.

[@dancarlin5434]

In the US 90% of prize machine operators tend to go to incredible lengths to make sure no one ever wins anything.

[@PinaColadaPacman]

The managers outfit...... is epic

[@thornmallow1]

Thank you Guys for posing this! I won so many prizes because of you! Thank you!

[@WaffleCat3367]

i literally had those machines in my dreams before i saw them in real life. i'm destined to play them.

[@ryantanzeyong5521]

John! I've been waiting for the next episode and finally it's out! I'm so thankful for your quality videos and you definitely deserve more subscribers! Congratulations on your 100,000 subscriber milestone by the way. Thanks a lot and hope you continue to make great videos to make us all stay entertained!

[@MyLifeJapanTV]

Yes! I've been waiting for this!! -Alan

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

ALAN, THANK YOU for participating in our crazy crane game episode! Glad you finally got that stuffed cat in the end. Hehe! ... and Bluetooth speakers!! (Are they still working?) -John

[@MyLifeJapanTV]

+WAORYU ONLYinJAPAN Thanks for having me on! It was a lot of fun. After we shot that episode, I went to the local arcade to test my newly acquired skills. It felt like being a Jedi commanding a bunch of droids. By the way, the speakers actually work REALLY well! I was shocked.

[@nobutaaaaaaaaa]

This was really entertaining XD he got the hook at the end lmao

[@veranaika]

After watching this i want to go to an arcade and try it myself lol

[@clawquest]

+nikki darling You should check out my channel I make claw machine and arcade game videos every single week in the USA which are very similar to these UFO catchers

[@still0114]

+claw quest no

[@clawquest]

2 months later

[@iawzzn]

Same xD

[@penguincyberbully2187]

+claw quest nah man arcades looks nothing like this in the US american arcades are boring and shitty

[@thornmallow1]

This is an EXTREMELY good instructional video for ANYONE who wants to master the Crane. Nice going guys!

[@yoni3600]

thanks to you I won a rilakuma bear after two tries!!

[@xconankunx4530]

you're awesome John Daub! love your videos! I miss playing those game machines.

[@elisemccurdy206]

So glad you put another one up I just got through ketching up with the each show. Great JOB keep them coming.

[@inbetween1-042]

Now when people say Saitama, I think Onepunch

[@poojaach6794]

BEST KZbin CHANNEL EVER ! PERIOD.

[@thatderptho6723]

It's actually an exclamation mark.

[@fluffybum4652]

I wish there were claw game arcades where I live.... these are so cool! I guess I will have to visit Japan!

[@MoonSt0n3]

Going into a Japanese arcade is one of my biggest dreams

[@Ashwellx]

Oh boy this narrating. Straight out of a pre-school cartoon.

[@Coolkc456]

Except a lot of these machines these days have that stupid clear plastic wall preventing you from doing an avalanche or a flip-over into the hole.

[@sayurimemberme]

THAT HALLELUJAH SONG WAS ON POINT YES

[@Shrew-22O1]

Saitama 😂😂 even the logo from this store looks like him..

[@davidsakuragi3373]

he got his name from saitama japan. those are aliens.

[@auraanimates5387]

XD

[@AckzaTV]

Oh I thought the angry table flipping strategy meant he was gonna get mad and flip over the entire machine in frustration to get the goodies inside

[@BobWerley]

Becoming a Level 1 Master was truly an awesome experience!!

[@thex1996]

Finally some actual knowledge, not like that shit you learn in school

[@chronohitbyabus3889]

My local Walmart actually added a ufo claw machine in the arcade section. I won like 7 prizes from it lmao.

[@MikeOpina]

why dosnt this channel have more subs ? the quality of his videos are entering and very very well produced

[@Brickinasock]

agreed

[@brianperkins2527]

Another video worth the wait. I appreciate seeing such wild and unique places and I love the enthusiasm in every episode. I have a love/hate relationship with claw machines but I would be obsessed if we had such huge variety here.

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

+Brian Perkins Thanks Brian! I sometimes take it too far with the cheesiness but really, we're have SO MUCH FUN and every episode is such a special experience for me. Thanks for the nice comment. I KNOW!! I think Bob was a man on a mission with that One Piece doll. He never gave up and won in the end. Alan also won a set of bluetooth speakers! I had to tear myself away from the huge cheese ball bags -- so cool but do I really want to win those ... (YES!! And that's the problem. Haha!) Great to hear from you! -John

[@Jdevy]

If only 100% of America's cranes were like this... only a handful of arcades in America have these UFO Catchers, and the rest either have Sugarloaf cranes that are okay, but can be very weak and the horrendous cranes with the payout systems that dictate wins.

[@hamadaru7041]

what an awesome episode

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

Very happy to hear that! Next one coming next week! -John

[@BikkoArt]

I love how you played on the "easy" machines with the beginner stickers on them.

[@wanaan]

I have a friend who's really good at crane game. When we were on a vacation to Tokyo, he walked out one night and came back with more dolls than he could fit in his luggage. He also got me an awesome Gundam figure the next day.In Japan, I find that you can actually ask the staffs to unhook the item if it gets caught up on the crane like in this video, and you get the thing afterward. That's how my Gundam figure was won.

[@ClawBoss]

This is AMAZING!!! I love Crane Games!!!

[@BrandenPlays32]

Me to bro can you subscribe to my channel claw boss i watched all your vids and donated money

[@Ieu6054]

@@BrandenPlays32 begggar

[@k.i.e.3814]

just came back from tokyo! its great because they actually let you win on these machines :D

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

+Kieran Leung I know!! Some machines are not impossible -- I mean, I saw people with bags of stuff!! They won it! The game center relies on regular customers so I people HAVE TO win or they'd never come back, right? On the website, the advertise the new prizes ... I keep looking for stuff I might want too. It's kind of fun! -John

[@CoryTheRaven]

It wasn't in Japan, but the last time I really wanted something out of a crane game, I just talked to the arcade manager and gave him $10 for it :D

[@tofutsukii4903]

smart idea!

[@iancrawford9465]

Amazing as always. I didn't check your last video's date but it seems like this one came sooner. Thanks Mr Daub

[@josst7530]

2:01 I want those bird cubes so bad! Does anyone know where you can find them online?

[@kingcat9670]

They have the UFO catchers in Seattle. They are SO much fun. I could play them for hours because they reward effort and skill!

[@ZohraJ86]

I did the Sega UFO Catcher here in the US. It is very difficult, but still the best crane game around. They have one of 'em at some movie theaters and Dave & Buster's too! :D I actually got the prize(stuffed animals)in a one try!

[@jmx1000]

Thank you John! You have really reinforced my ambition of travelling to Japan. Keep up the fantastic work! :)

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

+Jomax Collins Thank you Jomax! Japan and a load of fun adventures are waiting for you on this side of the world! -John

[@variant_hero]

This video made my day, ありがとうございます!

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

You are VERY welcome :) -John

[@linkkid7459]

Nice video, John! The crane games looked quite fun and enjoyable. Congrats on graduating to level 1! -w-

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

+Link Kid Thanks! It was actually hard work! Many many fails. It was nice to try it and not have to worry about money / adding coins all the time. -John

[@user-pb1mz2el7f]

I love this channel :D

[@Leogk001]

Awesome video I've been waiting for this one to come out!

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

+Leogk001 Awesome!! Very glad that you enjoyed it. -John

[@rocker1821]

The crane games dont seem like they are made to just rip people like the ones in the states

[@Donotlikebadpeople]

John , first of all congratulations on 100000 subscribers . Great epsisode btw , love the guests in this episode hope to see more in the future 😊

[@AlphaTengua]

I would have spoken to the employees about the nyanja . That was a clear win. They probably would let u have it most times if u show proof exp and ask they do get it for ya sometimes it requires paying them a few more dollars

[@toressm]

"THIS IS AWESOME"! MAN OH MAN "THIS IS AWESOME"!

[@Angie-te6kp]

Why am i watching this? I'm not even going to japan any time soon Is still a good video

[@shelbyriggan6601]

These arcades are in America too :)

[@Brickinasock]

this vid was great fun. thanks a lot John :)

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

You're welcome :) -John

[@seraphiccandy21]

4:32 er...thats not a bear, its a shiba inu

[@jesirawr]

+seraphiccandy21 No, that's the only dog in that machine that isn't a shiba. It's a pug more than likely.

[@televisionaccount8442]

Wow. Such bear? Much doge? Very pug?

[@ahipponamedpotamus8381]

Clearly you are all morons, it's barney the dinosaur... Jeez

[@VerdantAssassin]

Doge?

[@Syrephine]

That was cute! Now I wanna go there and try. Cause I suck at crane games. Cant wait for the Next video......Ice cream yay!

[@bhirawamaylana466]

you really need learn from the master i mean from spongebob "be the machine"

[@Kafufflez]

Absolutely love this channel! keep up the great videos! :D

[@warmpianist]

6:10 in most places if your prize is stuck by the crane, you can ask the owner to unlock and it off for you.

[@Sandata64RD]

Ah, I forgot to thank you for this video. So, thank you.

[@sofaking1611]

"Grab it from the rear itll be easier to steer" words to live by

[@Ging_10]

That was super fun "Sugoi !" especially that one peice figurine catch....the owner of this place must be level PERFECET lol.......did he really got them right from the first try?? XD

[@darkgenie3167]

That crane is way too strong compared to the ones on Toreba

[@shuaib2281]

Torebas a scam

[@edwardk12687]

@@shuaib2281 maybe to you *shrugs* I've won like 6 things from there. There is just skill and luck involved.

[@shinichi9do]

thank you john, looks fun there :D

[@Thomaskh7]

Nah this is lowkey bull, I'm in Japan rn and the thing is the claw has legitimately no pressure when closing to the point where it will grab something then when it pulls up will just let it slip straight through if it has any weight to it at all, to the point where even flipping it is impossible

[@yui3886]

Lol you just suck and simple minded.

[@indigo_died6910]

nah man you just suck you need to be intuitive about it

[@pachiayang4428]

Idk what those two up top are talking about but I'm experiencing the same thing. I'm in Osaka and their claw machine was not grabbing on whatsoever even when I perfectly aligned everything.

[@indigo_died6910]

@@pachiayang4428 Which arcades are you going to? Most of the time I win in less than 5 or 10 tries, and I've gone to several different arcades in Japan.

[@pachiayang4428]

@@indigo_died6910 Niko Niko. It's a smaller arcade stop. Ended up leaving after the 6th try after it wasn't making an attempt of grabbing on. Tried a bigger arcade stop and the claws were much better.

[@twinklgn]

Everything in japan is cute!!!!! Even the crane games

[@cherryblues1281]

Yeah I go there one day

[@gluckskatze3229]

Bear? Thats a Shiba Inu. :3

[@unaanguila]

Thanks for sharing! It was funny and I learned too.

[@bellajayadi9649]

That's cool! I love your videos! and this one reminds me of Umaru-chan :D

[@MandalorianFanboy]

I love your videos. Your channel is the only one I watch that without fail, always makes me smile.

[@WaoryuONLYinJAPAN]

+Tron Thanks Tron! Makes me so happy to hear that :) Working on the Kyoto video now and hope to get it up very soon so you can smile again. hehe -John

[@hrf6548]

i know some of the techniques here because of the anime Himouto!Umaru Chan hah

[@MasterEldriel]

me too xd

[@hokaeldarklord9844]

5 SOSHI Of SONE SNSD 4ever I learned it from umaru Chan too XD

[@kiwisparkle1014]

I'm happy that you guys got what you wanted and graduated! 😄

[@brb919]

ɷɷɷɷ Heeeey Friendz I Have Foundd W0roking Online Hacck visittttt : - t.co/sBNJq9SVe2

[@marlenemorales9197]

Luv this channel ❤️❤️

[@miikoshka]

This is super fun to watch

[@nugget4339]

Mean while in America the craw machine barely works

[@Kealiile]

Yay a new video!!!! 😀

[@xympho]

Hi John, we went here and we would honestly say this place was quite a disappointment. The items were unpopular, hard to win and irrelevant (food items?). For all tourists interested to go to this place from Tokyo, I would not recommend at all and you are better off going to UFO catchers at the arcades in Shinjuku.

[@flutterdrown3922]

xympho thanks for the tip

[@colincofield3747]

Just saw this on Japan News. Now when I go back to Japan I can impress my wife and friends. Thanks!

[@moonzdrop9811]

i'm addicted to crane games but sooo soo bad at it :/

[@birdierankin269]

This is the best ever I love it so much it's the best video I ever saw in the whole world

[@teeblackgold97]

4:30 Is there literally piles of WAIFU pillows!?!?!?

[@katieao8]

Looks so fun!! Very very nice video!!!

[@GrumpyCunt]

grab it from the rear, it would be easier to steer

[@ViraRiva]

ive only won something once. my friend spent about $50 tying to win a figure and we even asked staff for help but only the last guy knew what he was doing. all the best stuff are in these machines