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Pachinko:
A Kind of Gambling
Keiko
Imai from Japan
Keiko
Imai from Japan writes
about a gambling addiction which has become a
social problem.
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Photo:
Sandy Peters
It
has become a social problem; some
accidents have happened because people
have this addiction.
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I'd
like to write about the pachinko addiction.
Nowadays, some people in Japan are suffering from
this addiction. It has become a social problem;
some accidents have happened because people have
this addiction.
What
is pachinko?
First, I'm going to explain about pachinko.
It is is a kind of Japanese gambling. There are a
lot of machines (a kind of pinball machine) in
pachinko parlors. People sit down in front
of these machines and buy small silver-colored
balls. Twenty balls cost about 100 Yen. Now if 100
Yen is exchanged into American money, it must be
about 90 cents. Although some people think it isn't
expensive, the balls are gone rapidly, and it is
easy to use 20 balls in 30 seconds.
The
pachinko players move small handles which
are under the right side of the machine. There are
some grooves in the machine, and if the ball enters
in these grooves, players can increase their number
of balls. But it is difficult to enter the grooves,
so many people get nothing even though they spend a
lot of money. But, a few people know the technique,
so they can live by playing pachinko instead
of working. These people are a kind of
professional.
Description
of a "pachinkoholic"
The
person who has an addiction to pachinko goes
to a pachinko shop compulsively. If they
don't go there, they are irritated and angry, and
some people become violent in their family, or some
do nothing. They don't work or anything. Some
people's hands tremble, and some people cry and
shout.
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Photo:
Sandy Peters
It
has become a social problem; some
accidents have happened because people
have this addiction.
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Nowadays
not only men have from this addiction but also
women; therefore, it affects children because some
housewives are addicted.
Every
year, there are some accidents. For instance, one
housewife who was addicted left her baby in the car
to play pachinko in hot summer and forgot
the time. When she noticed the time and went back
to the car, it was too late because her baby had
already died.
Consequences
on people's lives
It is a dangerous addiction because some people
lose all of their possessions, get divorced, or
even kill their children. They can't live in the
society. Also, it is difficult to solve this
addiction. In order to get well, they have to have
strong will, and people around them have to help
them.
Trying
to solve the problem
There are a few solutions. One solution is for them
to write a diary to get well. They write how much
money they spend to play pachinko, and they
strive to spend less. Also they write their
feelings, suffering or anything they want to write,
and after that, they read it many times. Then they
control their addiction with their families'
help.
Word
Power: Words
to Communicate about Addictions
More
modern day addictions: Shopaholism
| Workaholism
| Webaholism
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