Pachinko: Where Yen Come to Die
Written by Kyle on Saturday, August 01, 2009 in Japan
Feelin' amused
Ok, ok, so it's another Japan post despite the fact that we've been in Korea for 2 weeks now. But, in our defense, we just found some more Japan photos on our small camera and had to write an entry about them. We'll get back to Korea after this, but for now, let's talk about pachinko.Feelin' amused
Pachinko is kind of like a combination of pinball, slot machines, and the Price is Right game, Plinko. Basically, you trade in your money for a bunch of ball bearings that you put into a machine. Depending on where the ball bearings end up falling, you can win or lose more ball bearings. Like pinball, you can get them in a certain slot that will start a sequence whereby you can win even more of the little balls.
Stacks of the coveted ball bearings; a pachinko machine
Instead, we are the unskilled foreigners who walk into a loud and smokey gambling den. A pachinko parlor is a bit like some crappy roadside casino on the fringes of an indian reservation. The machines are deafening and if you forgot to bring your cigarrettes, don't worry, because one breath of the air is enough.
When we walked in, the other "players" seemed to be enraptured in the game and more worried that the inexperienced whiteys will only mess up their good luck voodoo. Fortunately, one of the younger employees at the parlor was kind enough to take us to a machine that we could afford and showed us how to use it. After learning the ropes, we promptly lost all of the ball bearings that we had just bought.
We're not sure if we're winning or losing
You may wonder what people do with all of those ball bearings. I mean, why would people happily spend their money to win little metal balls? Ok here's the deal: gambling is technically illegal in Japan. So you can't win money directly. Instead, you win the little balls, and you can trade those in for prizes (like dish soap, or electronic devices). But, then, you can take those prizes, go to another business a couple blocks away and "sell" them for cash. In theory, the "Prize Buying Business" and the pachinko parlor are supposed to be separate entities, but the rumor is that they are both run by organized crime. So, don't be surprised if the same prize that was just sold ends up back in the pachinko parlor the next day.
All in all, pachinko was about as much fun as playing a slot machine to me. In other words, mowing the lawn is more fun. But, if you're into the flashy lights and some ghetto Vegas style, a pachinko parlor is the place to be.
Comments on "Pachinko: Where Yen Come to Die"
I can see how those could get addicting.
Aaaaaaah, I can see we're on different wave lengths. LOL
YOU compared pachinko to slot machines to lawn mowing... I personally think Wheel of Fortune slot machines are MUCH MORE FUN than cutting the grass!! LOL Ask anyone who REALLY knows me! tee-hee-hee! (And I like your story on the Revolving-Door prizes!)
I saw a news story on Dateline or some such program about these Pachinko parlors. I did not quite understand how (or why!) they worked. Thanks for the "education." Even though you did not have much luck, the "experience" was your prize. :) :) Your description of the smoke filled environment reminded my of our teacher's lounge.....before our building became a "smoke-free" zone. How any of us non-smokers survived lung disease is amazing.
This all seems very LOW TECH for the country which constanly creates electronics to make American life styles obsolete every six months or so! Remember audio tape decks, betamax, transistor radios, VHS shoulder held recorders and players, etc. etc........ We should reverse the trend and bombard Japan with Las Vegas style electronic pachinko ball eliminator, gambling machines built in Nevada and shipped to Tokyo!
You seem to have had as much luck as I did at Pachinko. It took me no time at all to run through my ball-bearings. I was quite sad, actually, not so much because I didn't win, but because I didn't get to experience the somewhat shady prize-exchange ritual.
by Greg Wesson at August 17, 2009 05:17 AM