In
Japan, these are often called "
UFO Catchers", because there's often a small plastic
spaceship or
flying saucer on top of the
claw.
(This is just hearsay. "UFO Catcher" might be a brand name, a mistranslation, or something misremembered. I don't remember where I read it, anyway.)
A Japanese friend of mine who's
there with his family at least once a year confirms that they do call them that.