1968 Chū Hunter - チューハンター by 児童遊園設備 (Children's playground equipment) & 関東電機 (Kanto Electric)

Name: Chū Hunter - チューハンター
Year: 1968 (assumed)
Company: sold by 児童遊園設備 (Children's playground equipment) / manufactured by 関東電機 (Kanto Electric) / distributed by 三共 (Sankyo) 

Chu Hunter has many mysteries! It is a game that was sold for at least 6 years, and by at least 2 companies.

There is a youtube video taken at 六甲プレイランド (Rokko Playland) that shows Chu Hunter with a sign claiming it is from 1968:

Chu Hunter appears in this 1969 newspaper:

1969-05 アミューズメント(会員誌)
advertisement by 児童遊園設備 (Children's playground equipment)

The advertisement says that Chu Hunter is "Continuing to perform well".  This implies it was not a brand new game in May, 1969.  This would work very well with 1968 being the year of manufacture.

Chu Hunter appears in the 1969 Machine Directory.  It actually appears twice!

The first entry is for 児童遊園設備 (Children's playground equipment).  This is the same company as in the advertisement.

The second entry is for 三共 (Sankyo).  The Sankyo list includes many machines that we know are made by other companies.  

Two examples: 

1. Socker Ace - サッカーエース (Soccer Ace) by 日本展望娯楽社 (Japan Outlook Entertainment Company)
2. Basket Game - バスケットゲーム by カトウ (Kato)

The Sankyo list contains many games they are distributing, made by other companies.

In a 1972 issue of Amusement magazine, we have this advertisement from 関東電機 (Kanto Electric).  

At the bottom they they have a list titled "製造品目" (Manufactured items), which includes Chu Hunter.  The full list: 

• ターキーボール (turkey ball)
• 闘牛A型(牛の鳴き声付) (Bullfighting type A (with bull barking)
• 闘牛B (Bullfight B)
• チューハンター (Chu Hunter)
• レッドフォックス (Red Fox)
• アイスホ ッケー (Ice Hockey)
• 王将(新型) (Osho New Model)

Red Fox came out in 1972 and is sold by 三共 (Sankyo).

王将 (King) was another game released in 1968 and sold by 児童遊園設備 (Children's amusement park equipment).  

So it looks like 関東電機 (Kanto Electric) is the manufacturer.

In the 1972 machine directory, there are 4 references to Chu Hunter, and each of them is listed as Sankyo!  I am guessing this is because they were the only company with the game anymore.

Chu Hunter is listed under Sankyo in the company listing

In the price list, it is under Sankyo.

in the game index, it is listed as Sankyo

This Sankyo advertisement also lists Chu Hunter, plus 2 other games that 関東電機 (Kanto Electric) says they manufactured.

Chu Hunter also appears in the 1973 directory, also as by Sankyo.

I do not know when 児童遊園設備 (Children's playground equipment) went out of business or changed their name.  The last games I currently have listed as by them are from 1970.  So I think what happened was 関東電機 (Kanto Electric) was hired to manufacture the game for 児童遊園設備 (Children's playground equipment) and when they went away (maybe they were purchased?) then 三共 (Sankyo) became the seller of Chu Hunter.

Chu Hunter was available for a long time!  It must have been quite popular.

Gameplay can be seen starting at 3:05 in this video:

There is a tweet bv @OneMoreTimeC (archive) that shows Chu Hunter with a nixie tube display!  This is the only time I have seen Chu Hunter with nixie tubes.

nixie tube displays!

There are lots of wonderful photos of Chu Hunter, mostly thanks to the wonderful restoration work  @OneMoreTimeC.  After restoration, many people were able to play it.

As this tweet by @saladbarM (archive) points out, the gun from 早撃マック (The Quick Draw Mac) by 関東電機 (Kanto Electric) in 1974 is the same style as Chu Hunter.