Benex, a crane game warehouse chain operated by Tisco Co., has announced the launch of a new monthly “Gorogoro (5656), Power Max Days” event, beginning in September 2026. The promotion will take place on the 5th and 6th of every month across all five Benex locations in Kawagoe, Kawasaki, Yamato, Hiratsuka, and Urawa. The name “Gorogoro” is a playful reference to the sound of prizes rolling and tumbling around inside crane game machines, while “5656” is a Japanese wordplay based on the numbers 5 and 6.
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25% of booths with max arm power
The first edition of the event will be held over the weekend of September 5–6, giving families the chance to experience the promotion without having to visit on a weekday.
During normal operations, Benex typically has around 20–30 booths configured with 100% arm power. During the two-day promotion, however, approximately one in every four booths will be switched to maximum arm power, creating what a high-density “big-win” zone.
The number of Power MAX booths varies by location:
- Kawagoe: more than 280 booths
- Kawasaki: more than 250 booths
- Yamato: more than 200 booths
- Hiratsuka: more than 150 booths
- Urawa: more than 120 booths
Each participating machine will also be clearly marked with a “POWER MAX SETTING” sign, making it easy for customers to identify which machines are part of the promotion.
Stronger arms make a big difference
Stronger arm power creates opportunities for players to experiment with completely different strategies. With the claw operating at full strength, prizes can move in unexpected ways, producing dramatic wins that wouldn’t normally be possible.
Sometimes, the power can even be too strong, causing prizes to roll or tumble unpredictably. But that unpredictability is part of the appeal. Players have to figure out how to control the movement of the prize and adjust their strategy accordingly.
In general, however, strong arm strength makes prizes significantly easier to win, giving players both the dopamine hit and value for money.
From one-off promotion to monthly event
The decision to make Power MAX Days a regular monthly event follows the overwhelming response to Benex’s first promotion held on June 3 and 4. Despite both dates falling on weekdays, the promotion attracted a large number of customers. Social media was filled with enthusiastic reactions about prizes rolling around, unusual winning techniques, and even heavy prizes being lifted.
Many requested the event be held again as they were unable attend due to work, prompting Benex to turn the event into a monthly occurrence. The move is also part of a broader effort by the company to improve the overall crane game experience, based on the motto:
“Crane games are more fun the better you get at them.”
Among Benex’s other initiatives are free training machines as well as dedicated staff to assist beginners in difficult setups. The company has also expanded it selection of household goods, fresh produce, and frozen foods as prizes.
Benex is popular for a reason
Benex currently operates five stores across the Kanto region (in Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures) and has established itself as a major destination for crane game enthusiasts. The company says its stores attract more than one million visitors annually, based on estimates from Cross Locations Inc.’s Location AI Platform®.
Part of Benex’s appeal is its emphasis on the experience of winning rather than simply leaving the outcome to luck. The company aims to create machines where players can improve their skills and develop strategies. Staff may also step in to help customers who are struggling.
The scale of the stores is another attraction. Large floors packed with crane machines create a treasure-hunt atmosphere, with customers constantly encountering prizes they weren’t expecting to find. And with stores open 365 days a year until midnight, Benex offers plenty of flexibility for customers looking for a late-night or spontaneous crane game session.
When we went the Kawasaki branch in December 2024, I did not find it particularly easy, as shown in this vlog below:
However, it is likely the company has since adjusted its machines. According to a June 2026 customer survey with 1,522 valid responses, 98.8% of customers said they would like to visit Benex again, compared with 93% the previous year. Meanwhile, the percentage of customers who felt that prizes are easy to win increased from 75% to 82.7%.
With that in mind, Benex might be worth another visit in the future, particularly on the 5th or 6th of a month.
Source: Tisco Co. via PR Times. For more on Japan’s claw machines, check out The Beginner’s Guide to Mastering Crane Games or the archives.