One Fraud in the Japanese Pachinko Industry

 

One Fraud in the Japanese Pachinko Industry

In Japan, the pachinko industry has been facing numerous challenges, and among them, I have noticed a particular fraudulent practice in some pachinko shops. This article aims to shed light on this issue and foster a conversation about its implications.

The Fraudulent Practice

Some pachinko shops employ individuals known as "UCHIKO" (打ち子). These are people hired to play pachinko machines under specific conditions to manipulate profits. According to the linked Wikipedia article, UCHIKO are commonly used in gambling-related frauds in Japan.

I observed that certain machines are marked to indicate they are suitable for UCHIKO to play. One common sign is that the bottom plate of the pachinko machine is left open. These machines are often set to have loose settings, meaning that UCHIKO can easily win when they play. However, the machine appears to "tighten" when regular customers use it, resulting in significant losses for them.

The Larger Issue

It is unclear how widespread this practice is in Japan's pachinko industry. However, I believe it is extremely difficult for insiders to stop these fraudulent activities on their own.

Through a discussion with ChatGPT, I realized the complexity of breaking the chain of fraud. ChatGPT pointed out that there is a distinction between understanding the reasons behind fraudulent behavior and justifying or forgiving it. This insight helped shape my perspective on this issue.

The Root Causes

The reasons behind such frauds are multifaceted. Japan's economic challenges, including low wages for young people and accelerating inflation, create a fertile ground for unethical practices. Moreover, opportunities for fraud are abundant in industries like pachinko, which already operate in legal and ethical gray zones.

Once individuals engage in fraud, it becomes difficult for them to stop due to the immediate benefits and potential risks of exposure if they try to change their ways.

Why I Wrote This Article

I wrote this article to bring attention to this issue. By understanding the underlying causes and the barriers to stopping fraudulent activities, I hope to encourage a broader discussion. My aim is not to accuse individuals but to call for structural changes that can make such practices less viable and create a fairer environment for everyone.