|
There is one thing you'll find all over Japan, from the smallest
towns to the biggest cities, and that is gambling halls. The
name of the game is Pachinko.
Like most forms of gambling, Pachinko generates large amounts
of money and a certain amount of crime. The Japanese Mafia,
the Yakuza, are said to control the Pachinko parlours,
and much underworld activity is attached to the parlours,
from violent crime to underpaid taxes. As well as Underworld
links, the world of Pachinko is thought to be inherently seedy,
with the many Pachinko magazines also containing some nudity
and ads for escorts.
The parlours are spread all over Japan and are frequented
mainly by men, although now more luxurious facilities, womens
only areas and ladies days attract more of the upper crust
and help to dispel the grubby, masculine image of the game.
Parlours are typically gauche coloured interiors and very
smokey.
History and origins
It is thought that the roots of Pachinko derive from the
"Coringth Game" originating in 1920's Chicago,
USA and now the game has crossed over to America, where you
can find many Pachinko parlours.
Its name is derives from "pachi pachi", which
means 'the clicking of small objects on a crackling fire'.
It is not dissimilar to pinball, small metallic mini-marble
balls are bounced around a network of nails to try and hit
the jackpot holes. It's a game of mainly chance, since the
old style manual "flipper" action has been exchanged
in favour of electronically serviced machines. Pachinko caught
up with modern technology in the 1980's when machines became
computerised with digital sounds and graphics for added excitement.
How to play
Instead of coins, if you launch the pachinko balls into the
winning sockets, you get back more balls which can be exchanged
for good from the gift shop, or if you get three matching
symbols on the balls you can win an even bigger prize. Bring
a big bag or bucket - a top win will flood about 10,000 tiny
Pachinko balls out of the machine! Gambling is actually prohibited
in Japan, but most Pachinko parlour flaunt the law by allowing
winners to exchange their "gifts" in the shop for
cash in back alleyway "hole in the walls" outside
the parlour.
There are several "grades" of Pachinko machines:
the easy to play Hanemono which are cheap to play with
a lot of wins but very small prizes; the Deji-Pachi"digital
pachinko" where the wins are computerised; the serious
player will use the Kenrimono machine, which require
a detailed knowledge of the "rights" of how to play
and win. After one win there will usually be one specific
hole which needs to be hit to achieve other bigger wins. Sitting
straddled on these mean machines is no place for beginners
or tourists.
Pachinko mania
It's not merely a game but a phenomenon, and for some people,
Pachinko is a lifetime obsession and a living. Pachinko aficionados
line up outside the parlours waiting for the 10am opening.
If you catch a "good" machine giving good winnings
you can earn the equivalent of a days wages or more. It's
the most popular leisure activity in Japan, attracting around
a quarter of the population.
The hard times in recent Japan have been Pachinko's greatest
friend, as many people believe a night out at a club or cinema
is a waste of money, but Pachinko can offer a pot of gold
which is very tempting in lean times. |
