Do you think that many pachinko parlors will go out of business if the situation in North Korea escalates?
(this question assuming you believe the widely held notion that North Korea controls much of the pachinko business in Japan)
Question posted by: matatabe
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November 26th, 2009 at 8:45 am
pachinko
Solid question-No, I don’t think the pachinko industry will suffer-
#1. Gamblers can’t stop gambling even if they like don’t North Korea. It’s not as if the players like the parlor owners in the first place. It’s an itch they have to scratch.
#2. It has become very difficult to remit the money to North Korea. The ferry service is stopped, there is no way to wire money, and I am sure known North Korean agents and diplomats are watched closely.
#3. North Korea’s policies has alienated a lot of North Korean residents of Japan. A lot of people who used to make a contribution every month no longer do so. Aside from the WMD, kidnappings, etc., when people in Japan find out their relatives in North Korea are starving, in a prison camp or worse, they tend to stop sending money. Besides that, I think there is a lot of infighting in the North Korean residents association.
#4.The pachinko indsustry has gone “corporate” in a lot of cases, and does what it can to sever its ties with organized crime and North Korea. The industry was never “controlled” per se by North Korea, but I am sure plenty of money has gone from pachinko to North Korea over the years.
All that being said, I think students at North Korean affilated schools in Japan will face a lot of harrasment and restaurants, etc. that are known to be owned by North Koreans will suffer. That’s unfortunate because I think most of the North Korean residents of Japan are victims of Dear Leader as well. Most of them only “tithed” because they wanted their relatives in North Korea to be well treated, or they wanted to do something for their hometown, etc. Even the ones who are devout Marxists probably don’t approve of what North Korea has become.
November 26th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Create a video blog…instantly.
I agree with above statements and really like #4, Pachinko gone corporate statement.