See that picture I put above? It looks like an ordinary Taiko no Tatsujin 3 cabinet, but note the banner on the top; it's completely different. 'Wadaiko 3'? Yep, this is not a Japanese region arcade machine, but one of very few English-version Taiko 3s to make it into the US as a litmus test to see how well the series would do outside of Japan, imported in 2002. We all know what happened after that, but that doesn't make this machine any less desirable; it's one of just three or four in the entire world!
And a generous benefactor was kind enough to donate it to the wonderful staff of the Digital Game Museum in Sunnyvale, California, where the machine will be on display to further everyone's knowledge of gaming culture and the Japanese rhythm game scene as a whole. It's definitely exciting to see them acquire such a rare piece of gaming history! If any of you live near the museum, be sure to go see Taiko 3 on display.
You can read more about the details of the acquisition in the museum's website here, and also a full album of pictures of the Taiko 3 cabinet here.
Thanks to the Digital Game Museum for letting us use their information and picture for this article!
