Pachinko: an addiction that generates money and disappointment in Japan.

Cheap, easy, and captivating entertainment that generates profits comparable to those of car manufacturers, in the range of ¥18 trillion annually, pachinko is a craze in Japan. And without exaggeration, it can be said that it's part of the country's culture. Regardless of age or gender, anyone can play it. This is because pachinko is very simple to operate; you just need to control the speed of the small steel balls launched into the machine. And the best part: you have the chance to double or triple your money in just a few hours sitting in front of the machine.

Like any game of chance, users run the risk of losing a lot of money. Some even end up spending an entire month's salary in just one day of playing. But it's worth the risk to feel the thrill of the "machine opening" – a slang term among skaters, meaning to win at pachinko.

When the "machine opens," flashy lights and sounds emanate from the equipment, enough to attract the attention of nearby players and inflate the ego of the "winner." He will certainly return the next day. But perhaps he doesn't know that luck is not an eternal conquest.

After winning, a "ritual" begins for collecting the prize. In Japan, handling cash inside establishments is prohibited. However, this doesn't prevent the prize from being awarded. Payment is made, but discreetly. First, the winner takes the balls to a machine that counts points and issues a ticket. They then exchange this ticket for "prizes," which are any objects with values ​​corresponding to yen. Afterwards, they go to a small window outside the establishment, where they hand over the "prizes" to finally collect the cash.

MONEY-MAKING TOY

Naive and tempting, this popular Japanese pastime was once an innocent children's toy before becoming a game of chance. Pachinko is an adaptation of the Corinthian Game, a game invented and played in the United States in the 20s. The game consisted of a wooden board with holes and metal pegs nailed into it, which made it difficult for the metal balls to fall into the holes.

Over time, children's entertainment underwent changes and transformed into an adult "toy." Years later, the Corinthian Game crossed oceans and landed in Osaka in mid-1924.

Korinto Geemu, as it was called by the Japanese, quickly became a national craze, which even back then was controlled by the Yakuza (Japanese mafia). Gradually, players nicknamed it pachi-pachi because of the sound of the balls hitting each other, and later the game was named pachinko.

In the 80s, the machine received computerized technology, gaining sophisticated and attractive design and performance.

PACHINKO SLAVES

Easy to play and capable of turning small change into a small fortune in just a few hours. These are the elements that make pachinko a fascinating game for its users.

AI (*), a 22-year-old Japanese man, is a pachipuro (professional pachinko player) who has been playing and making a living from pachinko for six years. Without a steady job and attending college occasionally, the young man spends most of his time at the gambling den. "I only go to my parents' house to shower and change clothes," says the pachinko addict who is used to sleeping in his car, which is parked in the parking lot of the hall where he is a regular customer.

His lifestyle doesn't bother his family. "My parents don't say anything because I'm already of legal age," explains the Japanese man. He once lost ¥110 in a single day gambling. "But I've also won ¥200 at once," he replies proudly.

Pachinko addiction isn't limited to the Japanese. Many foreigners are captivated by the game, which is seen as another source of income. "I once won ¥280, playing from 9 am to 19 pm," says PHO, 24, from São Paulo. He has lived in the archipelago for six years and has been frequenting pachinko parlors in Aichi for three. "Pachinko is fun. I'm friends with other Japanese players and we celebrate when someone 'opens the machine'. Whoever wins pays for dinner, but when everyone loses, we split the bill. The pachinko parlor has become a club for me," the young man recounts.

The Brazilian admits that gambling is an addiction. Quitting pachinko isn't easy. "Today I'll play pachinko occasionally, because I've taken many 'falls' (lost money). The machine once took ¥130 from me at once," he recalls. Between losses and gains, PHO estimates he's had more losses than profits. "Pachinko doesn't offer a future for anyone."

"OPENING THE MACHINE"

Luck and a dash of experience are important ingredients for achieving the desired success in pachinko. It's no coincidence that the 'machine opens' or sucks the customer's money.

“Practice in the game helps you lose less money, because what matters is the luck of getting a machine programmed to win,” explains FT, 27, from São Paulo, who worked for six months at a pachinko parlor in Kasugai (Aichi).

He explains that after closing time, the machines are altered. “The technicians open the equipment and change the molds that hold the metal pins, to make it harder for the steel balls to fall into the holes that are worth points. In other words, the machines that gave out prizes today won't 'open' the next day,” reveals the former employee, who currently works independently in the Gifu region. “I don't miss pachinko, because the work was very stressful due to the noise, the cigarette smoke, and having to put up with rudeness from customers who lost all their money gambling,” he laments.

Society does not discriminate against addiction.

“The game becomes an escape valve from problems. Sometimes, a person may be lucky enough to win money, and this ends up sustaining the illusion that pachinko is a way to fulfill a dream quickly and without depending on anyone,” analyzes psychologist Neusa Emiko Miyata, executive director and advisor of Disque Saúde (Health Hotline).

“We deal with many cases of family members of gambling addicts who suffer the consequences of their relative's addiction. Those who gamble have the illusion of getting rich quickly,” says Neusa.

Another relevant aspect pointed out by the psychologist is the acceptance of gambling by Japanese society. "There is no discrimination against gambling. It's seen as just another form of entertainment," she concludes.
International Press Japan – Elaine Kawagoe