scan: Sega Price List 1971-05

The first of the 6 price lists we recently purchased is now online!  16 pages total.

This is an extremely rare document and I am delighted to be able to share it.  This was brought here thanks to a community of contributors who helped financially, Sudden Desu, and Detchibe (who scanned it).

Download at the internet archive.  And here are a few of the pages inside:

Sega 1971-05 Price List

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This blog stands in protest against the USA's horrific attempts to eliminate trans people from society. Trans people have always existed, in every society, but the administration has embraced a moral panic, declared a war against reality, and says that trans people can no longer be allowed to exist. This includes making their healthcare illegal, censoring books and school curriculum from university level down to elementary school, banning trans people from bathrooms, and declaring trans existence to be child abuse.

This blog stands in solidarity with all of the youth who are being terrorized by a fascist president who has declared them to be threats that must be eliminated.

The USA is disappearing random brown people off the streets via unidentified masked gestapo and shipping them off to concentration camps and notorious foreign prisons, all with no due process. The world witnessed ICE execute a mother and then lie about what we saw. Solidarity for all who are in the gaze of this American Nazism terror campaign against its own people.

Please read: Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital In WA Shuts Down Youth Gender Clinic Amidst Federal Funding Threat by s. baum

Please read: Trump administration finds California’s ban on ‘forced outing’ of students violates federal law by Eric He

Please read: What the Fight Over Transgender Athletes Is Really About by Julie Kliegman

Please read: Education Department refers Minnesota trans athletes probe to Justice Department by Bianca Quilantan

Please read: Feds drop effort to get trans patients’ records from LA children’s hospital by Ana B. Ibarra

Please watch:

 

scan: 週刊朝日(Asahi Weekly) 1951-10-26 with pachinko article

I stumbled on this issue thanks to a random search. It features a great article on pachinko, including some very rare machines.

Download at The Internet Archive. 

週刊朝日(Asahi Weekly) 1951-10-26

I have included some OCR and machine translations below, but please assume there are numerous machine errors. I have not thoroughly double checked it. 

ADDED: tweakbod has done a full OCR and machine translation.  Please scroll to the bottom for the complete English text.

 

transcription:

週刊朝日一
私たちの社会学
パチンコ

子どもの遊びのパチンコが大人のあそびになつてきた子どもがおとなのまねをしてパチンコばやりの浮世ゆえ大人がこどものまねをするせいぜい遊んでバチンコで毎日浮かれてやりましようカンシャクダマのうさばらし………………
(「日劇」地下街ボスターより)
――というわけで、今はバチンコ大流行だが、さてそれはどういうわけなのか。(編集部)

パチンコ社会学
パチンコ必勝法
パチンコの力学
パチンコ経済学
パチンコ攻防戦
パチンコの哲学

machine translation: 

Asahi Weekly
Our Sociology
Pachinko

Pachinko, a child's game, has become an adult game. Children are imitating adults, and because pachinko is so popular, adults are imitating children. Let's just play and have fun every day with pachinko. Let's relieve our stress...
(From a poster in the underground shopping mall at Nichigeki Theater)
--So, pachinko is all the rage right now, but what's the reason for that? (Editorial Department)

[from the Index:]
Pachinko Sociology
Pachinko Winning Strategy
Pachinko Dynamics
Pachinko Economics
Pachinko Battle
Pachinko Philosophy 

OCR:

1 パチンコ必勝法

秘訣はなにかもう、ずい分と書きつくされたパチンコである。従って、私たちは、先ず、そのものズバリと、パチンコ必勝法から、この報告を始めることにしよう。 

必勝法といつても、先ず第一に機械、熟練度、さらには心理的条件によつて様々で、一概にはいえないが、一時間で、ピース十簡は軽く稼ぐという、ユーモア作家の宮崎博史氏(浦和市岸町三ノ八五五)などは先ず、セミプロ級に属するであろう。氏の必勝法によると、こういうことになる。

第一に良い機械を選ぶこと。パネは強からず、弱からず。軽くはじいてみて、玉がグラウンド(はじかれた玉が転がる所)の最上部まで達するのがよい。手前の方に傾いている機械は駄目。垂直になつているか、すこし後に傾いている方がよい。電燈のためにガラスが光って、玉の動きがよく見えないような機械、クギが非常にゆがんでいる機械は避けること。ことに穴の直ぐ上の二、三木のクギは、よく注意して見ることが必要、玉が通らない狭さにクギを曲げてある機械もある。また、あまり玉が入り過ぎるとみると、裏側で、パチンコ屋がバネの調子を変える場合がある。機械の後ろで、 女の子がゴソーやり始めたら、 別の機械に移った方がよい。(この時、「ワアッ」とか、「ダメだよ、そんなことしちゃ」と女の子を牽制する手もある)

第二は、バネをはじく右手を固定させ、いつも同じ強さで、バネをはじけるようにすることだ。両足を少し開いて、安定した、ゆつたりした姿勢をとり、玉は、左手で投入する。右手で玉を投入すると、バネをはじく調子が、どうしても一定に行かない。

バネの下に、指をいれるのは、同じ強さではじくために有効。バネの強さによつて、指を二木にしたり、三木にしたりして調節すればよい。(某機械工は、ネジ回し器で高さの安定をはかるものを携帯したともいうあとは、慣れとカンで一定の調子を覚えることだ。

第三は、一つ穴に狙いをつけて、そればかりを狙うこと。どの機械にも、入り易い穴というものは、一つか二つしかない。まずはじめに、無駄玉のつもりで、いくつかはじき、早く入り易い穴を見つけることが肝心。グラウンドの向って左半分のなかに入り易い穴が多い。クロウトは、左半分だけで勝負する、とよくいわれるのは、このためだ。また玉は、一回転させては絶対に駄目、はじいた玉がスッと上の方まで上って行く途中から、狙う穴に落ちるようにならなければいけない。クギに玉をぶつけ、そのはねかえりを利用して穴に入れようとするのも止めた方がよい。パチンコのクギは、玉突きのクッションのように、物理的に、一定の方向にはねかえるものではないから。

第四は、無心になることだ。調子の良い機械を選び、入り易い穴が見付かったら、あとは、右手のバネの手加減を変えないようにして、虚心坦懐に、パチンパチンとはじく。あまりあせったり、ビースを何簡稼いでやろうなどと欲ばつたりすると、必ず右手の調子が狂うものだ。

さらに、自信を持つて、機械に向うかどうかも案外成績に関係する。大げさにいえば、機械を呑んでしまって、機械と我と一つという心境でやることだ。

第五は、賞品にかえられるだけの玉を稼いだら、すぐ賞品にかえてしまうこと。玉を百ためようとか、二百稼いでやろうとかいう野心を起すと、必ずといつてよいくらいに、損をする。手持ちの玉が ・多いと、どうしても、玉のはじき方が粗雑になる。

賞品にかえた残りの玉が、少いようだつたら、オール十などを狙わずに、一箇の玉を二箇にする 「紅白」とか「赤青」とかいう機械に移つて、まず着実に、持玉を倍にしてから、オール十に向う。 これが損をしないパチンコの秘訣だ。

セミプロ銘々伝 
パチンコのセミ・ブロは宮崎氏だけではないどこにでもいる。例えば、渋谷区穏田二の四五に住む白川意泰(トモヤス)氏(薬剤卸し業)も、その一人。氏の必勝法はこうだ。

「パチンコ台をえらぶには釘の按配に注意する。とくに穴の真上で三角形をつくる三木の釘は一本でも曲つていたら入らない。入口の二本の幅の広い狭いは大して関係ない。反つてこの二木はタマが食い込む程度の広さだとビタリ入る。

パネは、晴れた日と雨の日では加波を変える。天気がよいと台 (ベニヤ板)の弾力性が強いから、バネをはじく時、少し力を抜き、雨の日は心持ち力を加えて離す。コンディションは、まさに雨

が降り出しそうな空模様が、適当の湿気があつてよく、時間からいうと、同じ理由で夕方がよい。また、手の中にいつも10なり15なりタマを掘っていて、何回入るか、自分のペースを自然と計れるようにする。このペースが崩れてきたら、引きあげる潮時と思うこと。
タマはなるべく、同じ重さのものを選ぶご」

また各古屋大学医学部助教授古田莞爾医学博士なども中京におけるパチンコ・チャンピオン? かも知れない。博士は、昨年六月知多半島へ検晃に出かけた折、熱田駅で検察庁の人を待つ間に一寸やつてみたのがやみつきだが、あくまで「時間つぶし」の健全換楽が目的で、「二十円から四十円までで三十分から一時間くらい」を楽しむという主義だという。それでもふしぎと殆ど毎日タバコ一個ないし三個くらいとる。しかも今やあのオール十個のジャリーンという音を耳にすると、何ともいえぬ爽快な気持になるというのであるが、この博士のコッはころいろことになる。

machine translation:

1 Pachinko Winning Strategy

The secrets to pachinko have been extensively documented. Therefore, let's begin this report with the very essence of the pachinko winning strategy.

First of all, winning strategies vary depending on the machine, skill level, and even psychological conditions, making it difficult to generalize. However, humorist Hiroshi Miyazaki (3-855 Kishimachi, Urawa City), who claims to easily earn 10 pieces in an hour, would probably be considered a semi-professional. His winning strategy goes something like this:

First, choose a good machine. The spinner should be neither too strong nor too weak. Lightly flick the ball; it should reach the top of the ground (where the ball rolls). Machines tilted toward you are no good. It's better if the machine is vertical or tilted slightly backward. Avoid machines where the glass is lit by electric lights, making it difficult to see the ball's movement, or machines with extremely crooked nails. Pay particular attention to the two or three wooden nails directly above the holes; some machines have nails bent so narrowly that the balls won't fit through. Also, if they notice too many balls going through the hole, the parlor behind the machine may adjust the spring's settings. If a girl starts making a banging noise behind the machine, it's best to move to another machine. (At this point, you can try to restrain her by saying, "Waah!" or "Don't do that!")

Second, keep your right hand, which triggers the spring, steady and consistent. Stand with your feet slightly apart, stable, and relaxed, and insert the ball with your left hand. Inserting the ball with your right hand will inevitably result in an inconsistent spring response.

Placing your finger under the spring is effective in ensuring consistent force. Depending on the strength of the spring, you can adjust the finger by using two or three fingers. (A certain mechanic is said to carry a screwdriver to measure the height stability, and then you can memorize the rhythm through practice and intuition.)

Thirdly, aim at one hole and only aim at that. Every machine has only one or two holes that are easy to enter. First, flick a few balls as if they were wasted, and it is important to quickly find an easy hole. There are many easy holes in the left half of the field. This is why it is often said that expert players only play in the left half. Also, the ball should never spin around once; it should fly up smoothly and fall into the aimed hole halfway through. It is also best to avoid hitting the ball against a nail and using the rebound to get it into the hole. The nail in a pachinko machine is used to flick the ball This is because the balls do not physically bounce in a certain direction like a cushion.

Fourth, clear your mind. Choose a machine that works well, and once you've found a hole that fits easily, just keep the pressure on the spring in your right hand constant and snap the balls with an open mind. If you get too anxious or try to earn as many balls as possible, your right hand will inevitably go out of sync.

Furthermore, whether you approach the machine with confidence is surprisingly related to your performance. To put it dramatically, you should engulf the machine, and act with the mindset that you are one with the machine.

Fifth, once you have earned enough balls to redeem for prizes, redeem them immediately. If you become ambitious and try to save up 100 balls or 200, you will inevitably suffer significant losses. If you have too many balls,・If you have too many balls, you will inevitably end up sloppy with the way you shoot the balls.

If there are only a few balls left after converting them into prizes, instead of aiming for all tens, move on to machines called "Red and White" or "Red and Blue" which turn one ball into two, and first steadily double the number of balls you have before moving towards all tens. This is the secret to playing pachinko without losing money.

The stories of semi-professionals
Miyazaki is not the only pachinko semi-bro; they can be found everywhere. For example, Shirakawa Tomoyasu (a pharmaceutical wholesaler) who lives at 2-4-5 Onden, Shibuya-ku, is one such semi-bro. His winning strategy is as follows:

"When choosing a pachinko machine, pay attention to the arrangement of the nails. In particular, if even one of the three nails that form a triangle directly above the hole is bent, the machine will not go in. It doesn't matter how wide or narrow the two nails at the entrance are. On the contrary, if the two nails are wide enough for the ball to bite into, it will go in perfectly.

The panel changes its amplitude depending on whether it is a sunny day or a rainy day. When the weather is good, the machine Because plywood is very elastic, when flicking the spring, release it slightly, and on rainy days, apply a little more pressure. The best conditions are when the weather looks like it's about to rain, with just the right amount of humidity. For the same reason, evening is the best time. Also, always keep 10 or 15 balls in your hand, so you can naturally gauge your own pace by how many times you can hit the ball. If you start to lose this pace, it's time to stop.

Whenever possible, choose balls of the same weight.

Furuta Kanji, Ph.D., assistant professor at the Furuya University School of Medicine, is also a pachinko champion in the Chukyo region. It may be. The doctor tried it briefly while waiting for someone from the prosecutor's office at Atsuta Station on a survey trip to the Chita Peninsula last June, and became addicted, but his aim was to simply kill time with a healthy dose of fun, and he says he enjoys it for "about 30 to 60 minutes for 20 to 40 yen."Strangely enough, he still smokes one to three cigarettes almost every day.And now, when he hears the jingle of those 10 cigarettes, he feels an indescribable sense of exhilaration, but this doctor's heart is in a tailspin.

 

Zooming in on the pachinko images:

機械の裏では、故障にそなえて従業員が坐つている
Behind the machine, an employee sits, ready to take action in case of a breakdown.

パチンコの研磨器
pachinko polisher

新型ダブル式パチンコ･･････普通のパチンコを上下に重ねた形,
New double-type pachinko machine: A regular pachinko machine stacked on top of another.

東京台東区のメーカー兼パチンコ屋
Manufacturer and pachinko parlor in Taito Ward, Tokyo

The following is the full article translation provided by tweakbod:

Asahi Weekly – October 14, 1951 (pages 3~11)

Our Sociology of Pachinko

Children's pachinko games
Have become a grown-ups' pastime
Children mimic adults
Adults mimic children
In this world where pachinko is all the rage
Let's revel in it every day!
Play to your heart's content with pachinko
To vent your pent-up frustration…
(From a poster in the Nichigeki Underground district)

—So, pachinko is currently very popular, but why is that? (Editorial Department)


Table of Contents: October 14th Issue

Pachinko Sociology
• Pachinko Winning Strategies……………3
• Pachinko Mechanics ……………………5
• Pachinko Economics ……………………6
• Pachinko Battles…………………………8
• Pachinko Philosophy ……………………9

1. Pachinko Winning Strategies

　What is the secret? Pachinko has been written about extensively. Therefore, we will begin this report by directly addressing the topic of how to win at pachinko.

　While there's no single foolproof method, as success depends on the machine, skill level, and even psychological factors, some players, like humor writer Hiroshi Miyazaki (3-855 Kishicho, Urawa City), who can easily earn ten pieces in an hour, would be considered semi-professional. According to his winning strategy, it goes like this.
　
　First, choose a good machine. The spring should be neither too strong nor too weak. Try flicking it lightly; it's good if the ball reaches the top of the field (the area where the flicked ball rolls). Machines tilted toward the front are no good. It's better if they are vertical or tilted slightly backward. Avoid machines where the glass is too reflective due to the lights, making it hard to see the ball's movement, and machines where the nails are severely bent. Pay close attention to the two or three nails directly above the holes; some machines have nails bent so close together that the ball can't pass through. Also, if it seems like balls are going in too frequently, sometimes the pachinko parlor staff will adjust the spring tension from the backside. If a girl starts fiddling around behind the machine, it's best to move to a different one. (At this point, you could also try to deter the girl by saying something like, “Whoa!” or “Hey, you can't do that!”)

　Second, keep your right hand steady when flicking the spring, ensuring you always flick it with the same force. Stand with your feet slightly apart in a stable, relaxed posture, and load the balls with your left hand. If you load the balls with your right hand, the rhythm of flicking the spring inevitably becomes inconsistent.

　Placing your finger under the spring is effective for ensuring a consistent force. Depending on the spring's strength, you can adjust by using two or three fingers. (One mechanical engineer reportedly even carried a device to stabilize the height using a screwdriver.) After that, it's a matter of practice and developing a feel for maintaining a consistent rhythm.

　Third, focus on one hole and aim for it exclusively. Every machine has only one or two holes that are easy to get the ball into. It's crucial to start by flicking a few balls, treating them as practice shots, to quickly find the easy holes. The left half of the playing field tends to have more easy holes. That's why it's often said that pros play only on the left half. Also, you must never let the ball complete a full rotation; the ball, after being flicked, must travel smoothly upwards and then fall into the target hole. It's better to avoid trying to hit the ball against the nails and use the rebound to get it into a hole. This is because the nails in a pachinko machine won't rebound the ball in a consistent direction like the cushions on a billiard table.

　Fourth is to clear your mind. Choose a well-functioning machine. Find an easy-to-access hole, and then, without changing the pressure of your right hand, calmly and steadily flick the lever. If you get too impatient or get greedy thinking about how many pieces you can earn, your right hand will inevitably lose its rhythm.

　Moreover, whether or not you approach the machine with confidence can surprisingly affect your performance. To put it dramatically, you should become completely absorbed in the machine, working with the mindset that you and the machine are one.

　Fifth, as soon as you've earned enough balls to exchange for a prize, exchange them immediately. If you get ambitious and try to accumulate one hundred or two hundred balls, you'll almost certainly end up losing. When you have a lot of balls on hand, your shooting inevitably becomes careless.

　If you have only a few balls left after exchanging some for prizes, don't aim for a "perfect ten" or similar high-scoring combinations. Instead, move to a machine that doubles your balls, such as the "Red and White" or "Red and Blue" machines, and steadily double your balls first before attempting the high-scoring combinations. This is the secret to playing pachinko without losing.

　Semi-Pro Profiles:　Miyazaki isn't the only semi-pro pachinko player out there—they're everywhere. Take Mr. Tomoyasu Shirakawa (pharmaceutical wholesaler), who lives at 2-45 Onoda, Shibuya Ward. His surefire strategy goes like this: “When choosing a pachinko machine, pay close attention to the arrangement of the nails. Especially the three forming a triangle directly above the hole—if even one is bent, the balls won't go in. It doesn’t really matter if the width between the two at the entrance [of the hole] is wide or narrow. In fact, if these two are just wide enough for the ball to catch, it will go in perfectly.

　“The spring requires different adjustments on sunny days versus rainy days. When the weather is good, the base (plywood) has greater elasticity, so you should use less force when flicking the spring. On rainy days, you should apply slightly more force when releasing it. The ideal conditions are when the sky looks like rain is about to fall, providing just the right amount of humidity, and for the same reason, evening is best. Also, always hold about ten or fifteen balls in your hand. This helps you naturally gauge your own pace by counting how many fit. If this pace starts to falter, consider it time to call it a day.

　“Choose balls that are as close to the same weight as possible.”

　Dr. Kanji Furuta, associate professor at Nagoya University School of Medicine, might also be considered the pachinko champion in the Chubu region. He says that he became addicted to it after trying it briefly while waiting for someone from the public prosecutor's office at Atsuta Station, during a trip to the Chita Peninsula for an autopsy last June. However, he insists that his purpose is purely for “killing time” and healthy recreation, and that he adheres to the principle of enjoying it for “30 minutes to an hour, spending between 20 and 40 yen.” Yet strangely, he manages to win about one to three packs of cigarettes almost every day. Moreover, he now says that hearing the jingle sound of all ten [balls] gives him an indescribably exhilarating feeling. The secret to this doctor's skill boils down to this:

　“There are no special tricks like the so-called pros use, such as adjusting how many fingers you use to control the spring. I always use full force. I choose machines that work well when I use full force. If the nails on the surface of the machine are pointing downwards, [the balls] will not go in easily. That's to be expected, because they all hit the glass. Thicker nails have less elasticity and don't bounce around as much, so [the balls] go into the hole more easily. It has nothing to do with the spread of the nails or the spring. But—well, in conclusion, pachinko is designed so that more often than not, the balls don't go in.”

　So, the question is, to what extent do pachinko balls go in, and to what extent do they not? Let's have Professor Morizo Hirata of the University of Tokyo's Physics Department scientifically examine the probability theory of pachinko.

[page 5 photo caption]
Scenes from Tokyo's Shinjuku

2. Pachinko Mechanics

　In the case of five-tier nail board, the arrangement varies by machine, but the most common type is arranged as shown in Figure A. So, assuming the spacing and thickness of the nails are constant, where is a ball most likely to land if it enters the first row of nails at the position shown in the diagram? In the case of Figure A, if there are target holes at (a) or (b), the logic is that if you flick the ball so that it reaches the position shown in the diagram, it has the highest probability of entering one of those holes. However, the probability of 0.312 does not mean that out of ten balls flicked, three will definitely fall into the target holes.

　Now, let's repeat the action of rolling ten balls from the position shown in the diagram a thousand times. On extremely rare occasions, all ten balls will land in the target holes, and conversely, there will also be times when none of them land in the holes. However, after a thousand trials, there will be approximately 508 instances where three or more of the ten balls landed in the target holes, and the number of instances where four or more landed in the holes will drop significantly to about 30.
　
　For the Four-tiered Nail Arrangement:　As shown in Figure B, when there are four rows of nails, you should position the ball directly above the target hole. If we perform the same action as in the five-tiered arrangement, the number of times three or more balls enter [the target hole] is approximately 940. This means that in most cases out of 1000 attempts, three or more balls will hit [the target].

　As the number of nail rows increase, it becomes significantly harder to hit the target hole. Even the most skilled player cannot increase the probability of hitting the target hole beyond a certain point. There are also machines with windmills scattered throughout; if the ball hits one of these, the probability of it landing in the same hole decreases even more than if an extra row of nails were added.
 
　This is where the master's skill comes into play: as shown in Diagram C, where there are no rows of nails above the hole. However, these are surprisingly more difficult to hit than they appear.

　Parabola-Tracing Ball:　A ball propelled by a spring, after leaving the surrounding metal band, will travel along a parabola. Therefore, it is not possible to drop the ball at an arbitrary angle relative to the nails above the hole. For example, you cannot simply drop the ball with a plop so that it passes directly between the nails from above.

　Therefore, the direction of the ball is determined by where it separates from the metal band and begins its trajectory, and this is determined by the initial speed at which the ball is launched. Thus, to hit either of the two nails, the ball must be given an initial velocity within a certain range. The fact that expert pachinko players emphasize maintaining a consistent spring force is scientifically sound.

　However, even if the ball hits a nail, whether it passes through the gap between the nails and continues downwards depends greatly on the force with which the ball is deflected by the nail. If the ball and nail were perfectly rigid, the ball would bounce off like a reflection of light. In such cases, even if the ball hit close to the inside of the nail, it would often bounce out. In actual pachinko machines, neither the balls nor the nails are perfectly rigid, so the ball bounces off both nails several times as it falls.

　Nail Spacing is Tricky:　Even with the nails spaced 13 millimeters apart, if the center of the ball (11 millimeters in diameter) is off by just 2 millimeters, it will bounce out. One might think that because the ball is large and the spacing between the nails is wide, the ball would pass through relatively freely, but in reality, a deviation of just one or two millimeters has a significant impact. This is why, when a pachinko parlor slightly adjusts the nails, the balls become more difficult to get into the holes.

　It also makes sense to aim for the target holes on the left half of the playing field. That's because on the right half, the ball's parabolic trajectory becomes nearly horizontal, making it more likely to hit the nails and less likely to enter the holes. Furthermore, even if the force used to launch the ball is consistent, the longer the ball is in contact with the metal band, the more irregular factors such as friction come into play, making the ball's direction more unpredictable. The reason why spinning the ball a full rotation is considered inadvisable likely stems from these same principles.

[page 6 photo caption]
Behind the machines, employees sit in preparation for a breakdown.

3. Pachinko Economics

　This is getting a bit too technical. Let's try looking into the economics of pachinko in this area.

　Pachinko Distribution: 　The area with the highest concentration is Nagoya City, the postwar birthplace of pachinko. According to a Nagoya City Police Department survey, there are 722 parlors in the city alone, with a total of approximately 50,000 machines, which, considering Nagoya's population of one million, works out to “one machine for every 20 people.” According to a survey by a manufacturer in the same city, the situation in other areas is as follows: Tokyo (1,300 parlors, 70,000 machines), Osaka (800 parlors, 50,000 machines), and Shizuoka (800 parlors, 25,000 machines). Other areas where pachinko is popular include Hokkaido, Akita, Morioka, Mito, Niigata, Otsu, Yamanashi, Kobe, Takamatsu, and Fukuoka, while it has not yet spread widely in the Sanyo and Sanin regions.

　The Highest is One Million Yen Per Month:　How much profit do pachinko parlors actually make?

　The daily profit of a pachinko parlor is said to be around 5,000 yen for a very small shop, 10,000 yen for an average one, and 20,000 yen for a large establishment. According to one Tokyo operator, labor costs and other expenses account for about 20% of revenue, and prizes make up the largest portion, leaving a net profit of about 20%. Actually, net profits are likely to be even higher. If the daily sales are 20,000 yen, the net profit will be 6,000 yen per day, which amounts to a substantial 180,000 yen per month.

　This is an example from Tokyo, but in Nagoya, a “standard shop” equipped with fifty pachinko machines claims to make 30,000 yen, though in reality, most earn about twice that—around 70,000 yen. Assuming 70,000 yen per day, even if 70% goes to prizes, 21,000 yen remains. After deducting 5,000 yen for taxes, labor costs, and other expenses, 16,000 yen is left. One pachinko parlor near Nagoya Station is reportedly striving for a “monthly net profit of one million yen.”

　Although business owners unanimously claim that it's not profitable, the allure of “cash” income has led many small business owners to switch to operating pachinko parlors. Especially recently, with the easing of staple food price controls, the glut of restaurants that sprang up has led to their mutual collapse, and these business owners are most likely to switch to operating pachinko parlors. It is said that half of the pachinko parlors in Tokyo, which are increasing at a rate of 200 per month, are businesses that have converted from restaurants.

　In Asakusa, Tokyo, there are also businesses that divide their shops into two sections, operating both a knitwear wholesale store and a pachinko parlor. When their main business of selling textiles is doing well and they're selling a large quantity of goods, the pachinko side of the business suffers. Conversely, when the sounds of the pachinko machines are loud and bustling, the knitwear business is doing poorly.

　“Pachinko and economic downturns go hand in hand. For the time being, I'll be relying on my side job with pachinko…” the shop owner said with a resigned expression.

　Other businesses are struggling in this economic downturn, so pachinko parlors are increasing in number, and since landlords also lack money, pachinko parlors are thriving.

　Pachinko Machines:　The manufacturers of pachinko machines are mostly concentrated in Nagoya, with over 200 companies flourishing there. There are also about twenty in Tokyo and only two or three in Osaka. Only about ten percent of these have proper factories, with most subcontracting to home-based workshops. There are only a handful of old manufacturers dating back to before the war; most are post-war companies that capitalized on the recent boom in pachinko. Some started out as glass shops and have now risen to become leading manufacturers in their own right.

　The general consensus among manufacturers is that producing over 500 units a month is considered top-tier, while over 200 units is considered second-tier. However, only about 30 companies in Nagoya and two or three in Tokyo fall into the top tier. Some companies even sell between 800 and 1,000 units a month. This is an astonishing level of “production expansion” compared to three years ago, when 200 units a month was considered the maximum.

　The price of a single pachinko machine ranges from around 3,800 yen to 7,500 yen, but the manufacturer's profit is said to be between 800 and 1,000 yen per machine. The highest quality machines use premium plywood from Hokkaido. If they sell a thousand units in a month, that amounts to a profit of one million yen.

　From the beginning of this year until around April, what was called “Yaku-mono” became popular. “Yaku-mono” refers to a type with one hole that yields ten balls and other holes that yield one or two balls each.

　Currently, the best-selling type is the so-called "all-in-one" machine. This type of machine releases the same number of balls all at once, regardless of which hole the ball falls into. Furthermore, there's a trend towards machines that release a larger number of balls, ranging from ten, fifteen, twenty, thirty, to fifty. It also seems that the machine must make a cheerful, jingling sound when a ball enters a hole to be considered successful.

　There's also a “pocket-type” machine with only two winning holes, which is becoming increasingly common. Even within the pocket-type category, a new model has emerged where you only win if the ball enters both holes. This is likely driven by the same psychology behind the popularity of focus (forecast) betting in horse racing. Similar to this is the "double-type" machine. It's shaped like two regular pachinko machines stacked vertically, where even if the ball doesn't enter the top section, there's still a chance to win in the bottom section. One ball essentially serves two purposes. There are also machines with a mechanism where entering a specific hole initially releases ten balls, then a lamp lights up, and then entering another hole releases a total of thirty balls.

　The ball's hole-entry rate is typically designed with a target of 50%. This is adjusted by the spacing of the nails and the number of holes. The nail spacing is usually 13-14 mm where the balls roll down (the ball diameter is 11 mm), while the nails directly above the holes are spaced about 0.5 millimeters closer together. The number of holes is from 7 to 8 for All-15, 9 to 10 for All-10, and 15 for All-5.

　They are initially manufactured with a 50% success rate, and then, depending on the customer's (pachinko wholesalers and pachinko parlors) requests, they adjust the spacing of the nails, making [the spacing] wider or narrower. However, perhaps due to the fierce competition among pachinko parlors, recently there have been many requests to widen the [spacing of the] nails, making it easier for the balls to enter.
　
　Taxes:　Pachinko parlors are treated as amusement businesses, similar to places that offer billiards, ping pong, mahjong, and goldfish scooping.

　Pachinko parlors are subject to national taxes such as income tax, and local taxes such as business tax and admission tax (100%). Because pachinko parlors have rapid turnover of capital and can recover their investment in less than a year, operators often close down or relocate within a short period of time. Operators in different tax districts sometimes even exchange businesses, making it extremely difficult to track their actual financial situation. As a relatively new industry, determining how much profit they are making is a major headache for the tax authorities. Consequently, tax officials often stand outside establishments conducting so-called “business condition surveys” to observe customer traffic and machine usage rates.

　The same applies to admission taxes; in Tokyo, the tax is levied based on standards set for different entertainment districts. For each pachinko machine, the tax ranges from a minimum of 50 yen to a maximum of 400 yen per month, with an average of 100 yen. Even within the same district, the tax on machines on main streets can be double that of those on side streets. Recently, there have been many petitions to lower the tax. The argument is that customers have become more skilled at pachinko, leading to higher prize costs and increased repair expenses, so they are asking for a reduction in the admission tax. However, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's tax bureau believes the tax is not excessive.

　According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's survey, the admission tax collected from these pachinko parlors in July amounted to 1.21 million yen (compared to 1.57 million yen for Mahjong parlors and 620,000 yen for billiard halls), which represents 0.3 percent of the total admission tax of nearly 400 million yen, including that from movies, plays, and other forms of entertainment. However, there are concerns that the criteria for levying the admission tax are still too lenient. Regarding business tax, the annual tax base for all pachinko parlors in 1950 was 18 million yen, with the tax amounting to 7.2% of this, or approximately 1.3 million yen.

　Prizes:　One of the reasons for the popularity of pachinko is the appeal of the prizes. Looking at the ranked list of prizes displayed at a pachinko parlor in Asakusa:

Balls        Prizes
50        F-Drop (candy)        1 can
30        Socks            1 pair
30        Towel            1
25        Peace (cigarettes)    1
20        Hikari (cigarettes)    1
20        Calico Handkerchief    1
15        Towel Handkerchief    1
15        Soap                1
15        Drop (candy)         1
10        Cream            1
--------------------------------------------------

　...and so on. And the home [of pachinko]? In Nagoya, some places offer small bottles of whiskey, and depending on the location, they even hand over cash. In Osaka, it's bottled shochu, beer, and other alcoholic beverages. In Urawa, they target housewives doing their grocery shopping, offering tonkatsu (pork cutlets) and croquettes.

　After the war, pachinko briefly became popular, but by last summer it had faded away as if the fire had gone out, and it is said this was due to the scarcity of prizes. At that time, prizes represented 20% of revenue, but now they represent 70% to 80%. The Nagoya style, which involves high expenses but relies on a large number of customers to make a profit, has become prevalent. The number one prize is undoubtedly cigarettes. The volume of cigarettes flowing into pachinko parlors for prizes each month is 261 million (individual cigarettes). They are purchased from the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation at wholesale prices (for example, Peace cigarettes at a 7.5% discount, costing 37 yen, and Hikari cigarettes at an 8% discount, costing 27 yen 60 sen), amounting to 668 million yen. For the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation, pachinko parlors are its biggest customer.

4. Pachinko Battles

　Busy After Closing:　According to the manufacturers, newly installed pachinko machines are designed so that approximately 50% [of the shots] enter. If that were actually the case, business would be booming. However, signs reading “under repair due to malfunction” are frequently displayed, but to put it bluntly, the machines are being “repaired” to prevent [the balls] from entering. This has even given rise to the comical haiku verse: “Pachinko parlors are busiest after closing time.”

　The primary “repair methods” used after closing time involve adjusting the nails on the surface by bending them upward or downward, widening or narrowing their spacing, and essentially ‘tightening’ or “re-driving” the nails. For machines that hit too often, some operators (in Osaka) attach a ball to the end of a wire and study the flow of the ball from various angles. For this reason, some shops even hire craftsmen specifically for this task, paying them monthly salaries of 10,000 to 20,000 yen.

　However, these craftsmen aren't hired solely for such “repairs.” They completely replace the nails once every three months or so since these machines naturally wear down, thus altering the way in which the balls flow. Other large machines, which look like two regular pachinko machines joined together vertically, seem to be used to extend the enjoyment before an "out" occurs, or to achieve a “double happy” outcome.

　If the balls still come out too frequently, some establishments will stuff the gutter on the backside of the machine with balls during gameplay, or adjust the way the balls are launched. In some cases, if a machine consistently dispenses too many balls, the store will assign an employee to sit at the machine to prevent customers from using it.

　That said, if too few machines pay out, customers won't come, so they always make sure that one or two out of ten machines pay out reliably. They set a fixed daily payout limit per machine (for example, in Nagoya City: Osu 200, Hirokoji 400, Entonji 600). Once that set number of balls has been dispensed, they put up a sign saying “this machine is closed for the day.” This is commonly known as “spring cutting.”

　Balls are Currency:　Some customers aren't for being defeated though; there are so-called “violent factions” who use magnets to push the lever on the backside of the pedestal or who repeatedly poke with metal wire in order to release the balls.

　Currently, the biggest headache for pachinko parlors is the problem of surplus balls (or insufficient balls). In places like Nichigeki Underground, each parlor loses an average of about 5,000 balls per month, while in areas like Ueno, the number of balls actually increases. This is because there is no agreement among Tokyo pachinko parlors regarding prizes; for example, the ball exchange rate differs for one pack of “Hikari” cigarettes: 25 balls at Nichigeki Underground, 20 balls in Asakusa, and 15 in Ueno. So players who earn balls at Nichigeki then go to Ueno to claim prizes. (Incidentally, there are rumors that counterfeit “Hikari” and “Peace” cigarettes are circulating in the Ueno area, and since they can be purchased for about ten yen less than the genuine article, some say that exchanging 1 pack for 15 balls is enough to yield a profit in Ueno.)

　There were also large-scale transfers. Back when balls cost two yen each in Shizuoka, people would come to Tokyo by truck to buy balls for around one yen each. At that point, pachinko balls truly functioned as currency.

　When a pachinko parlor accumulates a surplus of balls, they sell them to other parlors at a low price (around one yen). The cost of purchasing balls is about 1 yen 60~70 sen each for heat treated balls, and 1 yen 20~30 sen each for regular untreated balls. Therefore, having cheap balls brought in from elsewhere is a major blow to pachinko parlors. Some struggling parlors, in desperation, even resort to having employees pose as customers to exchange the balls for prizes, which is a truly desperate measure.

　In the Nagoya area, some stores issue “ball deposit tickets” to minimize the number of prizes given out. It's a scheme to let customers play for free on their next visit, ultimately aiming to reduce their winnings to zero. Ball deposit tickets come in three denominations: “20-ball tickets,” “50-ball tickets,” and “100-ball tickets.” Of course, this is a violation of the industry association agreement.

[Page 8 photo caption]
Pachinko polishing machine

5. The Debate Surrounding Pachinko

　Reports on pachinko related crimes have been surprisingly scarce. Our investigation revealed the following incidents:

(a) A 21-year-old milk delivery man, frustrated by his losses at pachinko, broke into the parlor and attacked the family with a butcher's knife (September 26, Nagoya).

(b) An incident where a store employee colluded with a customer to secretly release a large quantity of balls from the back of a machine, which the customer then packed into a suitcase and carried away (Yodobashi Police Station).

(c) A 13-year-old boy used a bent wire to skillfully pry open the center home-run hole, scoring 230 balls. He was caught exchanging them for 13 caramels and 7 pieces of gum (Ueno).

(d) A first-year high school student, struggling to pay his junior high school alumni association fee, received pachinko balls from a friend at a pachinko parlor, resold them to another store for cash, but then, unable to repay the debt, stole balls from another store and was arrested (Osaka).

(e) In the Abeno (Osaka) area, there was an incident where an old man at a pachinko parlor induced elementary school students to steal balls, as well as another incident where a group of five junior high school students bent the ends of wires into a 7-shape, thrust them into pachinko machines, and stole a total of 10,000 balls, and sold them (Osaka).

　That's about the extent of it. However, reports from various regions indicate that as a result of pachinko, junior high school students have learned to smoke cigarettes that were obtained as prizes. Overall, however, the popular pachinko game has now become more of an adult pastime than a children's game. There is even a story from Nagoya where parents were troubled because pachinko parlors lined the streets of the neighborhood, so they rented one out for a whole day, letting their children play until they were tired of it, convincing them that it was ultimately a losing proposition, which brought the parents peace of mind.

　So, for the time being, the Security Division of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is primarily focusing its enforcement efforts on two aspects of pachinko: the machines and the prizes.

　Regarding machines; those that operate on a simple "odd or even" principle, leaving no room for customer strategy or skill, are considered excessive as amusement devices, and they should be strictly regulated going forward. Regarding prizes; cash, controlled goods such as rice, securities, or anything similar are strictly prohibited. Regarding the prize value, they are following the Ministry of Justice's stance that amounts exceeding five times the fee should be considered an act of gambling.

　However, given the current social climate where large-scale gambling, such as horse racing and bicycle racing, are extremely popular, even the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department takes the view that five or six packs of cigarettes as pachinko prizes is hardly a significant problem.

　—That may be true. However, should the matter be dismissed so easily? The real issue is perhaps deciphering the social psychology revealed by pachinko, a game hardly novel in itself, to see why it has gained such explosive popularity today. 

[photo caption]
A new model double-type pachinko machine... a design where two standard pachinko machines are stacked vertically.

6. Pachinko Philosophy
　
　“How many people, having forgotten everything, utterly everything, must lose themselves in such a wretched pastime? Entering not so much a state of absorption as one of self-obliteration—while clacking away. How many people must be utterly alone, even amid the sense of others swarming around, each one completely isolated—and, for no other reason than to make time disappear, while forgetting themselves as they clack away with such pure, solitary intensity? This nationwide manner of disposal that cannot be accomplished unless done in such utterly severed loneliness, so purely self-forgotten. Truly here, in this desolate scene, lies the symbol of one side of Japan's entire culture today…”

　This is an observation made by a writer during his travels. While regional variations exist, the clamor of pachinko machines now echoes throughout the country. This street scene, spreading like a fever regardless of time or place...what does it truly signify? How can we explain this astonishing spectacle?

　Below, we will summarize various interpretations gathered from numerous social commentators and social psychologists (including Soichi Oya, Otoya Miyagi, Taro Tanaka of Osaka Women's University, Takeo Fujisawa, and Hajime Nagaoki).

Machine Structure:　Despite possessing a relatively simple structure, pachinko combines both game-like and gambling-like elements. These machines wouldn't have become so popular if the game rules were too difficult, or if it was too hard to win prizes. Conversely, if the games were too easy, the shop would lose money and wouldn't be able to stay in business. Customers, too, would lose interest in the gambling aspect if prizes were too easy to obtain. In psychology, there's a term called “expectation level” (level of aspiration); Customers won't engage unless the challenge meets their expectations.

　Pachinko manages this balance successfully. Moreover, by adjusting the spring tension or bending the nails, that balance can be maintained at the appropriate level.

　Pachinko balls are standardized throughout the country. In this respect, they share some characteristics with currency. Balls won today can be used tomorrow. Balls won at one establishment can be tried at another.

　It goes without saying that the low cost of manufacturing the machines and the ability to start a business with minimal capital are among the reasons for its success.

　Social Conditions:　A defining characteristic of the post-war social landscape was the overwhelming presence of people on the streets. People would simply leave their homes and wander the streets aimlessly. Office workers tried to prolong their time away from home as long as possible. The Lumpenization of life.

　Some opinions attribute this phenomenon to housing conditions. Certainly, there are probably quite a few salarymen who don't want to return to their cramped apartments where the children are crying loudly. Other opinions point to the economic downturn and social unrest.

　There is also a notable theory that suggests this is an inevitable consequence of the Labor Standards Act. According to this theory——

　In Japan, the Labor Standards Law was enacted for the first time after the war. It established an eight-hour workday. Factory workers and shop clerks alike now had free time. Yet, despite this modernization in legal terms, social conditions have deteriorated compared to the pre-war period. Recreational facilities are virtually nonexistent compared to other countries. Alcohol is expensive and unaffordable. Going to the movies takes too much time. Libraries, amusement parks, and parks are all in unsatisfactory condition.

　They have no outlet for their excess energy. They find themselves with too much time on their hands. They simply wander aimlessly through the streets.

　And there, they find pachinko parlors. They scramble to rush inside. Is there any other way to kill so much time with so little money? And the prizes are necessities—cigarettes. The thrill of gambling, the excitement. They forget everything. There's probably no other pastime as efficient, stimulating, and inexpensive for killing time. It's no surprise that pachinko is popular as a form of recreation.

　If this becomes an addiction, it can lead to doing it during work hours. There are salarymen who sneak in a quick game while out on company business, delivery boys who leave their bicycles unattended to play a quick round while on their route. Housewives who set down their shopping baskets. Office girls doing it with colleagues in tow…

[page 10 photo caption]
A Manufacturer and Pachinko Parlor in Taito Ward, Tokyo

　The stakes are small, and the prizes aren't much to speak of, even if you win. But if you lose, you can just laugh it off. In short, it's a petty little gamble. It's a form that directly reflects the petty, small-scale consumer lifestyle of the petite bourgeoisie.

　Compared to the immediate postwar period, society has become much more stable. Compared to the time when people were struggling to find food for the next day, there is now more leeway. That said, monthly salaries are still meager. The budget available for entertainment and cultural pursuits is at best five or six hundred yen, a pitiful sum compared to the prewar era.

　How to make the most effective use of that money?—this is a calculation that must be on everyone's mind.

　Psychological Landscape:　Pachinko existed even before the war. However, it was a candy vending machine for children. Post-war pachinko parlors, on the other hand, are entirely for adults. There are signs stating, “Persons under 18 years of age are not admitted unless accompanied by an adult.” This isn't because the structure of the pachinko has changed. While it's true that the prizes became cigarettes, couldn't there be other, more significant factors at play?

　Pachinko is a form of gambling. The post-war inflation instilled a speculative and gambling mentality in the minds of the people. They couldn't save diligently for the future or seriously consider improving their lives. Instead, they pursued immediate fortune and lived for the moment—through lotteries and bicycle racing. This psychological tendency remains deeply ingrained in our lives to this day.

　But how stifling the world has become lately. Inflationary pressures are steadily intensifying. The Cold War is escalating, and international tensions have been high, especially since the Korean War. The fear of a Third World War. The atomic bomb. All sorts of pressures weigh heavily upon us. There are countless worries that can be relieved by playing pachinko.

　Pachinko is, after all, a petty form of gambling. It's more of a humorous wager. It lacks the repulsive wickedness and decadence found in other forms of gambling. Compared to those forms of gambling, pachinko is practically nonsensical.

　Pros (those who make a living selling prizes) are a different matter entirely, but the general public is rather losing track of time in the nonsense of pachinko. In psychology, there's a phenomenon called “regression.” It refers to the phenomenon where, when faced with social oppression and unable to overcome it, one reverts to a childlike state to find enjoyment. Adults enjoy it because they're engaging in child's play. Pachinko allows them to forget everything else. It may be a form of massage for their heavy, burdensome lives.

　Pachinko is a solitary game. The opponent is not a human being, but a machine. He doesn't hear the deafening noise around him; his eyes are focused solely on a single ball. If he were playing against a human, losing would be frustrating, but since his opponent is a machine, he won't get angry. There will be no fights. Pachinko, expressionless like a “wall,” cannot hurt people. Complete isolation and self-absorption in solitude—this is the world of pachinko. Herein lies the self-gratification of the modern petite bourgeoisie——.

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This blog stands in protest against the USA's horrific attempts to eliminate trans people from society. Trans people have always existed, in every society, but the administration has embraced a moral panic, declared a war against reality, and says that trans people can no longer be allowed to exist. This includes making their healthcare illegal, censoring books and school curriculum from university level down to elementary school, banning trans people from bathrooms, and declaring trans existence to be child abuse.

This blog stands in solidarity with all of the youth who are being terrorized by a fascist president who has declared them to be threats that must be eliminated.

The USA is disappearing random brown people off the streets via unidentified masked gestapo and shipping them off to concentration camps and notorious foreign prisons, all with no due process. The world witnessed ICE execute a mother and then lie about what we saw. Solidarity for all who are in the gaze of this American Nazism terror campaign against its own people.

Please read: ‘No other option’: inside the refugee camp for trans Americans fleeing Trump by Helen Pidd and Eli Block

Please read: Trans-exclusionary data activism in the UK by Kevin Guyan

Please read:  Trump administration opens 18 new probes over trans athletes by Laura Meckler and Lauren Lumpkin

Please read: Getting off US tech: a guide by Paris Marx

scans: Monthly Coin Journal 1984-10 & 1984-10 part II

2 more issues of the extremely rare Coin Journals we purchased have been scanned by Detchibe. These take a lot longer to scan because they are being done non-destructively on an edge scanner, so please be patient as they trickle forth over the next year or more.

 

 月刊コインジャーナル [Monthly Coin Journal] Vol. 9 No. 10 (October 1984) (600DPI) 

 

 月刊コインジャーナル [Monthly Coin Journal] Vol. 9 No. 11 (October 1984 Part II) (600DPI) 

 

Some highlights:

 

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This blog stands in protest against the USA's horrific attempts to eliminate trans people from society. Trans people have always existed, in every society, but the administration has embraced a moral panic, declared a war against reality, and says that trans people can no longer be allowed to exist. This includes making their healthcare illegal, censoring books and school curriculum from university level down to elementary school, banning trans people from bathrooms, and declaring trans existence to be child abuse.

This blog stands in solidarity with all of the youth who are being terrorized by a fascist president who has declared them to be threats that must be eliminated.

The USA is disappearing random brown people off the streets via unidentified masked gestapo and shipping them off to concentration camps and notorious foreign prisons, all with no due process. The world witnessed ICE execute a mother and then lie about what we saw. Solidarity for all who are in the gaze of this American Nazism terror campaign against its own people.

Please read:  Experts Warn U.S. in Early Stages of Genocide Against Trans Americans by Walker Bragman

Please read:  The trans youth athletes in the US fighting for their rights: ‘Playing is an act of resistance’ by Sam Levin

Please read:  Contempt Is the Foundation for the War on Trans People, and America by Billie Jean Sweeney

Please read:  I loved my teaching job. But as a trans man in Texas, quitting was the only way to get my dignity back as told to Alaina Demopoulos

Please read:  Trump tries to smear Renee Good and her wife for ICE killing by Christopher Wiggins

Please read:  Pam Bondi Directs FBI to Offer Cash Bounty for Promoters of “Radical Gender Ideology” by James Factora

Please read:  Morning Download: Nevada governor aims to ban transgender athletes in state constitution by Chris Murray

Please read:  Children’s Hospital Colorado, Denver Health pause gender-affirming care for minors again by Meg Wingerter

 

HELP WANTED: purchasing rare SEGA and TAITO price lists!

Update: we have purchased the price lists!

Thank you to everyone who contributed. These will get scanned by Detchibe and I can't wait to have them shared online.

----------------------------- 

 

Hey remember last year when I put a call-out for help to purchase a massive run of Coin Journals?  And then we were able to purchase the Coin Journals? And Detchibe has begun scanning them for us all?

I am back with a similar ask.  I am looking for donations to help win these two auctions of extremely rare Sega and Taito price lists.  Both of these auctions end on January 12th so we have a little bit of time to spread this around and shake that cup.

These will all be scanned at high res and shared openly on the Internet Archive. 

 

The Auctions

Auction 1: Sega price lists

SEGA Price lists

 

This auction includes Sega price lists from:

• 1971-05
• 1971-09
• 1974-01
• 1978-05 

Auction 2: Taito price lists

Taito price lists

 

This auction includes Taito price lists from 1975-03 and 1987-05.

Current Tally

We are currently at ¥69,945.  That is ¥15,600 from my friend Flyercade and ¥15,000 from me. 
+ $25 USD (~¥3900) from JeffC, thank you!
+ $50 USD (~¥7800) from Jason H, thank you!
+ ¥27645 from Jonny, thank you!

I think we will need at least ¥64,000 to win these. I'd ideally like even higher bids, and any excess funds can be rolled into the next purchases.

 

What will these sell for?

It is hard to predict how high these will go, but my estimate is that the Sega lot will sell for 50,000 to 60,000 yen.  Let's look to prior auctions for guidance.

Sega 1971-05 price list sold for 5750. 

Sega 1972-09 price list (EXTREMELY SOILED) sold for a staggering 9500.  We purchased it and scanned it.

Sega 1973-01 price list (SOILED, DAMAGED) sold for 5350.  We purchased it and scanned it. 

Sega 1974-01 price list sold for 5850. 

Sega 1978-05 price list came up previously, selling for ¥27,300!  

Assuming 6000 for each of the early lists and ¥27,000 for the 1978 one, that is a ¥45,000 estimate for the Sega price lists.

Since 1971-05 and 1974-01 and 1978-05 had previously sold, my hope is that that will soften the competition.

 

Taito 1974-05 price list sold for ¥12,100.

Taito 1984-04 pricelist sold for ¥2300.

Taito 1985-03 price list sold for ¥2300.  

 

I estimate ¥12,000 again on the 1975-03 and ¥2300 on the 1987, so about ¥14,300 total for the Taito price lists. 

I'm guessing about  ¥4000 for all fees and shipping costs.

 

How to contribute?

My email is thetastates@gmail.com and you can send PayPal to that address, Wise transfer, and e-transfer if you are in Canada.

 

exploring the arcade in ドラムと恋と夢 (1956) aka Drum to koi to yume aka Drumbeat

It is always exciting to find any representation of Japanese arcades from before the 1960s!  Here we have a carnival with a ball toss game where you try and hit a classical oni, and a shooting gallery that including both a spinning platform and balloon shooting. This appears to be a set on a soundstage, but the game designs appear to be faithful to the era.

ドラムと恋と夢 (1956)

 

Rainbow Paradise

coinop horse rides

animated oni statue and ball toss game

遊技券一枚五発 (5 shots for 1 game ticket)

balloon targets tethered by string on the right, rotating target platform on the left

top, back we see a Pachinko sign

it is hard to see the pachinko machines, but they are there

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This blog stands in protest against the USA's horrific attempts to eliminate trans people from society. Trans people have always existed, in every society, but the administration has embraced a moral panic, declared a war against reality, and says that trans people can no longer be allowed to exist. This includes making their healthcare illegal, censoring books and school curriculum from university level down to elementary school, banning trans people from bathrooms, and declaring trans existence to be child abuse.

This blog stands in solidarity with all of the youth who are being terrorized by a fascist president who has declared them to be threats that must be eliminated.

The USA is disappearing random brown people off the streets via unidentified masked men and shipping them off to concentration camps and notorious foreign prisons, all with no due process. Solidarity for all who are in the gaze of this American Nazism terror campaign against its own people. 

Please read: On Surviving Trans Genocide by Mady Castigan