After World War II, the pachinko industry became a key part of Japan's leisure and entertainment culture, but over the decades it has often found itself on the borderline between entertainment and gambling. Officially, pachinko parlors are permitted because they are considered a recreational or leisure activity rather than gambling. Nevertheless, the game often allows for the indirect exchange of winnings/prizes for cash. This places the pachinko industry alongside legalized exceptions to gambling in Japan, such as horse racing and lotteries. Pachinko developed in Japan in the early 20th century, and in the post-war period, it offered rare goods during a time of shortage as a black market activity. The industry's further growth was closely linked to the changing economic environment, including economic growth and later the recession following the bursting of the economic bubble in the 1990s, when household income declines led to reduced spending on entertainment. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the impact of the pachinko industry on the Japanese economy and to understand its development throughout history, particularly in the context of the political, economic, and social changes that occurred after World War II and during the lost decades. In addition it has explored the significance of the pachinko industry today and the challenges facing the gambling industry.
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