What Are Pachinko Parlors in Japan?
A popular arcade game in Japan,Pachinko is a mechanical game similar to Western pinball machines.
The steel balls will then be launched into the playing area using a spring-loaded handle.
Image via Apple TV+
The player must then use the several pins in the playing field to direct the balls into cups.
Each ball falling into the cups will result in a payout, with the player winning more steel balls.
At the end, the balls can be exchanged for “prizes.
Based on the New York Times bestseller, this sweeping saga chronicles the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family across four generations as they leave their homeland in an indomitable quest to survive and thrive.
“Pachinko parlors are a common phenomenon in Japan, with these parlors looking and acting similar to casinos.
At the pachinko parlor, the balls cannot be exchanged for money.
However, this entire mechanism allows pachinko parlors to dodge the gambling laws in the country.
What Is the Significance of Pachinko in Apple TV+ Series?
Over the years,Sunja builds a life for herself and her family in Japan.
In its rudimentary form, pachinko is a game of chance, with odds often rigged against the player.
Yet, the essence ofPachinkoremains in the persistent nature of human struggle.
Get those tissues ready!
This is visible in the worldview shared by Solomon and his father Mozasu.
Over time, Mozasu builds his reputation and ends up owning the parlor where he worked.
Consequently, Solomons initial perception of pachinko is the same shared by the rest of Japanese society.
Season 1 and Season 2 ofPachinkoare available to stream on AppleTV+ in the U.S.
Watch on Apple TV+
Image via Apple TV+
Image via AppleTV+
