Pachinko: Japans Answer to Slot Machines
Image source: /kallu / CC BY-SA via Wikimedia Commons
Introduction: What is Pachinko?
If you happen to find yourself in Tokyo, we suggest that you take a stroll down any of the streets in the entertainment district of Shibuya. You’ll be struck by the sheer amount of noise coming from some shops. If you peer inside you’ll see hundreds of what look like slots machines standing side by side. And sat in front of each one will be a customer who is simply shoving small and shiny metal balls into the machine. They make such a racket as they fall through various hurdles on the front. Now multiply that noise by 1000! Welcome to the wacky world of Pachinko (パチンコ).
What Does Pachinko Mean?
The name of the game comes from the sounds the games machines make. “Pachin” is the root word of Pachinko and comes from the phrase “pachi pachi”, which itself has a couple of meanings. One is the sound of hands clapping. And the other is the sound of a light explosion. The “ko” means little or small. So the name of the game is pretty descriptive of how it sounds and looks. The actual game was first played in 1953 and has been making steady head-ways into Japanese society ever since.
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Pachinko Parlor: What Is It and How It Looks?
A Pachinko parlor looks very similar to a casino gaming floor, with all the slots machines lines up. On the whole, Pachinko parlors are quite large affairs, with rows upon rows of these machines standing together side by side. The machines themselves look a lot like Western pinball machines or slots. They’re covered in flashing lights and emit lots of sounds. You can actually spot a Pachinko parlor from miles away due to it’s bright and decorative exterior. Probably the biggest shock for a Westerner is the sheer noise inside, which in some ways adds to the excitement and certainly creates an atmosphere unlike in any other gaming experience. Today the game is extremely popular and both men and women enjoy playing. There are even Pachinko professionals.
Pachinko Online: Can You Play Pachinko on the Internet?
Due to the popularity of the game, it’s found a home for itself on the internet. Just like online slots, a quick browse through any of the app store will bring up hundreds of results. Originally made to cater to a Japanese clientele, Pachinko is now available for players of all cultures. Be sure that you find a reputable site to play on, especially as you can choose to play with real money. This will reduce the possibility of you experiencing fraud or any other negative factors. Go through as many sites as you can and compare sites with jackpots on offer.
How to Play?
Though you might be tempted to look at Pachinko through the eyes of a slot machine player, the games are very different. Pachinko relies on totally different strategies when compared with your average jackpot slots. The first thing you’ll need to do is rent some of those small steel balls from the parlor owner. Then take a seat and start to load them into the machine. Once they have been loaded, you’ll be needing to press a lever that then releases a hammer within the machine. This hammer will start to launch the Pachinko balls along a metal track. As the also slow on this track, they begin to fall into the playing field. As they all, they bounce off a number of metal pins placed around the sides of the playing area.
The aim of the game is to collect as many Pachinko balls in the ball catcher. These ball catchers are situated around the playing area and are simply small holes which the balls can fall into. There is really no jackpot winning tips or tricks as everything is pretty much automated. Once you’ve collected a few, you’ll be able to exchange them for prizes or tokens.
Pachinko Balls
Whereas a slot machine relies on coins, so a Pachinko machine relies on steel balls. To begin playing, you’ll need a minimum of 250 balls. If you want to avoid frequent trips to the supply tray refills, we would recommend using at least 500 or 1,000 balls. Balls have different values going from one Yen (around 10 cents) to a hundred Yen and more (one hundred Yen is equal to $1). Each ball weighs in at 5.75 grams and is 11 mm in diameter. Normally they are chrome plated. You might find that some balls are engraved, but this is merely decoration and has no effect on the game-play.
When playing, it’s important to keep the balls clean. The last thing you want is a build up of grease or gunk going into the machine. Sometimes the chrome will be pitted or coming loose to reveal rust. You should always swap these out for better quality ones. Also, the balls can develop cracks on the surface where the chrome plating is worn down.
Pachinko Tokens
As you’re probably already aware, all gambling is highly illegal throughout Japan. Yet Pachinko exists and flourishes. It’s because the popular game operates under a legal loophole. Namely that the balls cannot be exchanged for real money or removed from the premises. But where there’s a will, then there’s away. Within the parlor, there’s a legal trade in these balls. Essentially you can exchange your winning balls for “special prize tokens” If you happen to be playing Pachinko and win, then please don’t ask where the prize exchange location is. Such questions are forbidden. Instead, you should ask about the “special prize tokens”(特殊景品 tokushu keihin). Once they’ve been traded, these balls are then legally sold to a detached vendor, some miles away. All rather complicated, but it works for everyone involved.
Traditionally, Pachinko and the Yakusa go hand in hand. But over recent years, the game’s image ha undergone a clean and all games are now under the jurisdiction of the local police.
Pachinko Prizes – How Prizes Work in Pachinko?
If cash prizes are your thing, then be smart about how you go about making that exchange for the tokens. But if you want to earn prizes, then there are a plethora of options. Traditionally these balls were traded for things like cheap watches, ballpoint pens, and lighters. In typical Japanese style, these are not intended for the customers use as such, but rather to be circulated around the Pachinko parlor itself. Hence many come pre-packed in heavy plastic wrap. Right now, gold ingots of around 0.5 grams have become popular as a high-value prize. Other non-tradeable prizes can be everything between soft drinks, TVs, and bicycles.
Can Foreigners Play?
This is a great question because there are many activities in Japan which are considered to off-limits to foreigners. In truth, it’s all a bit hit and miss in that some parlors may be OK for you to play, whereas others will simply ignore you. Keep in mind that Japanese society is based on everyone being “non-conflict” or passive. That’s why a Pachinko parlor that doesn’t want you to play there will not directly tell you “no”. They will simply smile and ignore you. Outside of Tokyo, you’ll find that many of the Pachinko parlors are very suspicious of foreigners wanting to play. In Japan, virtually all crime is (officially) committed by foreigners, so people naturally think that you’re out to cheat them or the system.
The Future of the Game
An interesting fact is that Pachinko accounts for 4% of Japan’s total GDP! So it’s pretty safe to say that it’s here to stay. But more recently, the government has been taking more of a stand against problem gambling, and this has had a negative effect on both casinos, jackpot games, and Pachinko parlors. As Japan starts to transition into a truly cashless society, Pachinko stands a chance of being left behind. In order to try and sway public sympathy towards their cause, Pachinko parlors have been offering to pay the university tuition of many students from low-income families. Yes, it is a marketing stunt, but things are done a little differently in Japan.
Conclusion: Pachinko
Playing Pachinko in Japan is more or less the same as playing westernized casino games, in particular, that of slot machines. If you happen to be visiting Japan, then please do ensure a spare hour to check it out. It’s one of many staples in Japanese culture. And you’ll have a blast at the same time!
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