We need to discuss the details of 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment). The company 東京中機 (Tokyo Chuuki) was started by 加藤イサム (Isamu Kato) and 守屋邦芳 (Kuniyoshi Moriya) and they released their first machine クレンピック (clempic) around 1959. (citations in link)
Despite the obvious name, this quote implies that Tokyo was where 東京中機 (Tokyo Chuuki) began:
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| Amusement Journal 2015-11 |
Transcription:
卒業後は故郷の名古屋に戻り、発電所 の工事をしている会社に就職したが、一 年間働いたあと再び上京することになった。また長姉に呼ばれたのである。当時長姉は守屋邦芳なる人物と結婚しており、その守屋氏が事業をスタートさせる にあたり、手伝い手を求めたのだ。
Machine translation:
After graduating, he returned to his hometown of Nagoya and got a job at a company that was building a power plant, but after working there for a year he returned to Tokyo. He was also called by his eldest sister. At the time, his eldest sister was married to a man named Kuniyoshi Moriya, and Mr. Moriya was looking for someone to help him start his business.
From the same issue of Amusement Journal, 2015-11, this text reveals a few important details. Car-Shed - カーシェット and Hoi Hoi Test - ホイホイテスト were both built before the company's name changed, so they must have been made by by 東京中機 (Tokyo Chuuki) first. Early in 1964, the company's name was changed to 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment).
Transcription:
昭和30年代後半、日本は高度経済成長 のまっただ中にあった。人々のレジャー 機運も高まっていく。加藤氏は、さらに「カーシェット」と「ホイホイテスト」 の2機種を新たに製作する。前者は玩具 の車を利用した車庫入れゲームで、ハン ドルで車を操作し、フィールド四隅の車 庫に上手く入れていく内容のもの。後者 の「ホイホイテスト」は、数字を素早く 探していくゲームで、バラバラに配置さ れた1から30までのボタンを30秒で順番 通りに何個押せるかを試すものだった。守屋氏の経営する東京中機も事業規模 が少しずつ拡大していく。東京オリンピックの開催が近づき、さらに景気が上 向いてきたころには同じ遊戯関係の会社 と合併し企業規模が一気に拡大する。社 名も日本遊園設備に変わった。組織形態 も大きく変わる。
Machine translation:
In the late 1950s, Japan was in the midst of rapid economic growth. People's interest in leisure will also increase. Mr. Kato will also produce two new models: ``Carchet'' and ``Hoihoi Test.'' The former is a garage parking game using toy cars, in which the player uses dollars to operate the car and successfully drive it into the garages at the four corners of the field. The latter, ``Hoi Hoi Test,'' was a game where you quickly search for numbers, testing how many randomly placed buttons from 1 to 30 you could press in order in 30 seconds. Tokyo Chuki, run by Mr. Moriya, also gradually expanded in business scale. As the Tokyo Olympics neared and the economy started to improve, the company merged with another amusement-related company and expanded rapidly. The company name was also changed to Nippon Amusement Park. The organizational form will also change significantly.
The article does not say who the merger was with, but we can infer which company it was by looking at the company history included in the 1969 machine directory:
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| 1969 machine directory |
社歴Machine translation:
創業昭和30年4月1日。その後発展に伴ない昭和36年2月1日にアメリカ精機㈱として法人設立。
昭和39年3月アメリカ精機㈱を発展的に解組し、日本遊園設備)を設立する。
昭和40年11月、現在地に本社・工場を建設する。
昭和41年4月、西日本地区に販売業務およびアフターサービス業務開始する。
昭和41年、近代設備の充実した昭島工場を竣工し、作業のオートメ化と従業員福祉厚生施設を併設する。
昭和42年1月、モリヤ精機株を吸収合併して、資本金1,350万円とする。
Company history
Founded on April 1, 1955. As the company continued to develop, it was incorporated as America Seiki Co., Ltd. on February 1, 1961.
In March 1964, America Seiki Co., Ltd. was disbanded and Nippon Amusement Park Co., Ltd. was established.
In November 1965, the head office and factory were built at the current location.
In April 1966, sales and after-sales service operations began in the western Japan area.
In 1966, the Akishima factory was completed, equipped with modern equipment, automated work, and employee welfare facilities.
In January 1967, Moriya Seiki stock was absorbed and the capital became 13.5 million yen.
The company that formed 日本遊園設備 with 東京中機 (Tokyo Chuuki) must have been アメリカ精機㈱ (America Seiki Co., Ltd.). This says March 1964, but the Amusement Journal mentions "6 months before July 1964", implying January, so it probably occurred between January and March.
In the address blurbs below we see that Akishima is referred to as Head Office / Factory. I do not know how accurate this is. Akishima is not mentioned on any of the game flyers from 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment) that I have seen, but the information above says it was their main office from 1965 until at least 1969 when this was published?
The "Western Japan area" referred to for 1966 is most likely the Osaka location. The Osaka address written below matches exactly to the Osaka address that appears on 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment) flyers. This assures us that the address section was not mistakenly swapped from somewhere else by a clumsy editor.
From an advertisement in the 1969 machine directory, the address used aligns with what is in the company information section: Akishima and Osaka.
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| 日本遊園設備株式会社 本社工場 東京都昭島市宮沢町563~12 TEL (0425) 4-6268(代) 大阪 大阪市西区阿波堀3-54 ニューオカザキビル TEL 532-1212(代) 531-3625(直) |
From the 1969 directory company information page:
所在地
本社・工場
東京都昭島市宮沢町563の12
電話昭島 0425(41)6268(代)大阪支店
大阪市西区阿波堀通3の54 (ニューオカザキ橋ビル401号)
電話 06(532)1212(代) 内線74~3
(531)3625 (直通)東京支店
東京都港区芝4丁目6の6 (大介ビル2階)
電話03(452)1044(代)研究所
東京都小平市上水南町692
電話時分島 0423(22)3732
代表者 [illegible]
Machine translation:
location
Head office/factory
563-12 Miyazawa-cho, Akishima-shi, Tokyo
Telephone: Akishima 0425(41)6268(Main)Osaka Branch
3-54 Awahoridori, Nishi-ku, Osaka (New Okazakibashi Building No. 401)
Phone: 06(532)1212 (Main) Extension 74~3
(531)3625 (direct)Tokyo branch
4-6-6 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo (2nd floor, Daisuke Building)
Phone: 03(452)1044 (Main)research institute
692 Kamisuiminami-cho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo
Telephone number: 0423(22)3732
representative [illegible]
Assumptions I am making:
1. The logo seen in the 1969 machine directory was adopted in the 2nd-half of the 1960s, and any machine where the advertisement does not have the logo come before advertisements that do.
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| logo for 日本遊園 (Japan Amusement Park) |
2. 日本遊園 (Japan Amusement Park) began in Tokyo and flyers that only mention Tokyo exist earlier than flyers that also include Osaka.
3. The Osaka location opened in April 1966, and was referred to as the "Western branch".
4. While Kato-san left 東京中機 (Tokyo Chuuki) in the summer of 1964, he ended up doing soldering "for nearly a year", meaning the first Kato machine would not have been made until at least 1965. From the Amusement Journal article, here is the relevant excerpt: 自宅の近所に一部上場の電気機器メーカー・岩崎通信機の工場があったので、加藤氏は何度も足を運んで頭をさげた。ようやくわけてもらえた仕事は、岩崎通信機の下請けの下請けから回ってくる1個1円のハンダ付け作業。[...] そうした状況が一年近く続いた。("There was a factory of Iwasaki Tsushinki, a partially listed electrical equipment manufacturer, near his home, so Mr. Kato visited it many times and paid his respects. The job I was finally given was soldering work for 1 yen per piece, provided by a subcontractor of Iwasaki Tsushinki. [...] This situation continued for nearly a year.")
The flyers for 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment) come with 3 different versions of address information, and there is a 4th version (already shown above) from the 1969 machine directory. Please note there may be many other flyers I have not seen, but I will assume this covers all of the printed variations.
I am assuming this is the earliest address, as Osaka is not listed:
1
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| 製造・販売 日本遊園設備株式会社 東京都武蔵野市境南町4の1443 電話武蔵野 (0422) 43-6161(代) |
These first two both have Kyonancho as a Tokyo address. The location moved within the city, but the phone number is the same. The Osaka address is now added, so #2 must be 1966+.
2
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| 本社 東京都武蔵野市境南町4の16の18 電話 三鷹(0422) 43-6161(代表) 大阪支社 大阪市西区阿波堀通り3の54 ニューオカザキバシビルディング (306号室) 電話 大阪 (06)532-1212 (大代表) 内線 (73) (74) 直通電話大阪 (06)531-3625 |
This third address is nowhere near Kyonancho, and is instead close to Tokyo Bay. This 中央区 (Chuo City) address is very close to the Minato City address given in the 1969 machine directory, so I assume their business office moved between when the flyer and the machine directory were printed. I believe the factory address was left off.
3
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| 日本遊園設備株式会社 東京・東京都中央区銀座東4-7 77ビル TEL 541-2521(代) 大阪・大阪市西区阿波堀通3-54 ニューオカザキバシビル TEL 532-1212 |
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| Chuo City is right next to Minato City |
4
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| 日本遊園設備株式会社 本社工場 東京都昭島市宮沢町563~12 TEL (0425) 4-6268(代) 大阪 大阪市西区阿波堀3-54 ニューオカザキビル TEL 532-1212(代) 531-3625(直) |
The evolution and resultant ordering given by the above addresses makes sense to me. What does not make sense is the Akishima office/factory listed in the 1969 machine directory, as it is presented with the story of how this was their location since 1965.
This is speculation, but I have a hypothesis. What if the Akishima factory was built by 守屋邦芳 (Kuniyoshi Moriya) to work on games alone, or to be a subcontractor? The company Moriya Seiki was absorbed into 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment) in 1967, so perhaps after the change in the company and Kato-san leaving to form Kato in 1964, Moriya as well setup a company outside of Japan Amusement Park Equipment.
The Akishima factory address is 16km West of the Kyonancho one, so not an insurmountable move. Here is a map showing the general locations:
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| Kyonancho to Akishima is just over 16km |
It is just a guess, but it would explain why Moriyama Seiki existed, and explain the company story in the 1969 machine directory despite the multiple address changes documented.
We have seen flyers from 11 different 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment) games and we can group them based on which era their address is from. This implies a rough order to when they were made.
Note that it would be easy enough to have false positives, with a machine made earlier given an updated flyer. For example we know Car-Shed - カーシェット would originally be from 1963 or earlier, since it was made before the rename in 1964. But below we indicate it has the Osaka address, so that version of the flyer was printed in 1966+.
アポロ77 (Apollo 77)
パチンカスポーツ (pachinka sports)
パチンカトリオ (pachinka trio)
I have added brackets to denote the colours used in each flyer. We expect the cost of colour printing to decrease and and accessibility to increase as the 1960s continued. The colour flyers only being in Group 3 reinforces that we have the correct ordering of the flyer versions.
Group 1: since 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment) was created in 1964, and had an Osaka address in 1966, I believe it is safe to assume that these 4 machines existed before 1966. I will place these four machines into ~1965.
Group 2: Osaka is listed here, but the flyers are still mostly black and white, with an added tone of red and/or orange on some of them. We know Car-Shed is from 1963 or earlier, so we will ignore that one and put the other 3 into ~1967. I believe some of those games might have even come out earlier, but I have to move the data around deliberately, based on clues and evidence only.
Group 3: I do not feel comfortable modifying any of the game years here outside of 1969 or 1968. I already had placed 荒野の決斗 (Duel in the Wilderness) as ~1967 due to proximity to Astronauts, and will leave that there. U-Boat and The Blue Max will not move away from ~1969 at this point. I previously had Mid Night as "~1960s", but feel more confident to say that it is a late machine from 日本遊園設備, and will mark is as ~1968.
Group 4: he first 4 are from the 1969 Machine Directory. The first three are just a black and white advertisement, the 4th machine is a colour advertisement in the directory. The crane machine is a proper full colour flyer.
The 1969 Machine Directory profile lists 20 games. There is often not an easy way to determine if a company is a manufacturer or a distributor based on these listings. But we have a significant amount of evidence of games they made, so we can see that most of these are already know as being made by Japan Amusement Park Equipment.
- "various ornamental machines"
- Popeye's Rally Drive - Popeye's ラリードライブ
- Car-Shed - カーシェット
- Airport - エアーポート
- U-Boat - Uボート
- The Maginot - ザ・マジノ
- The Blue Max - ブルーマックス
- コインゲーム (Coin Game)
- 5 トラップ (5 trap)
- アポロ77 (Apollo 77)
- パチンカトリオ (pachinka trio)
- パチンカスポーツ (pachinka sports)
- パチンエース (pachin ace)
- クレーンゲーム (crane game)
- コインマーク1000 (coin mark 1000)
- ボールドライブ (ball drive)
- ウサバラシ (Usabarashi)
- ホイホイテスト (Hoi Hoi Test)
- Tele Type - テレタイプ
- Pony Derby - ポニーダービー
There are only 3 games of the 19 listed that I have not seen before, and of the 16 games I do know there is corroborating evidence that they were made by 日本遊園設備 for 14 of them. It is fair to say this list is not games they are distributing, but games they are making and selling. The only exception might be Pony Derby, which has a different manufacturer but still has 日本遊園設備 listed on the flyer.
The 3 games I have never seen will now get added to the database as "MENTION ONLY". However I do wonder if "coin mark 1000" is a coin changing machine.
5 トラップ (5 trap)
パチンエース (pachin ace)
コインマーク1000 (coin mark 1000)
If you have any more information on 日本遊園設備 (Japan amusement park equipment) or their games, please reply below or email me at thetastates@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for the enormous amount of information.
I'm not sure what I'm going to say, but aren't Kato (カトウ) and Kato Seisakusho (カトウ製作所) two unrelated companies? The president of Kato was Haruo Kato (加藤春夫), a former employee of Kasco (I believe I read this in an interview in Game Machine). Again, I may be off topic.
Hello! In regards to the company name, I had been using カトウ as shorthand for カトウ製作所 but I probably shouldn't be doing that. I checked flyers and references from the 60s and 80s and 2000s, and advertisements use カトウ製作所 mostly but カトウ sometimes, and when mentioned in Game Machine they would use カトウ as shorthand.
DeleteIf you can find any conflicting details, please do let me know. I'm still finding many errors in my earlier research.