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During the first wave of COVID-19 last year and the state of emergency that followed, there was a lot of ruckus about pachinko parlors in particular. But actually, very few clusters have been linked to them. Why do you think this is?

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Nobody speaks to each other . They just sick there playing... Maybe that's why.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

A handful of people controlling the media and therefore people’s perceptions.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

If it's not sufficiently traced and tested, then it's ovious very few clusters have been linked to them. Like one infamous person said "When there's a person, there's a problem. When there's no person, there's no problem". Same with tracing. Even less developed countries traced more than here in Japan. The gerontocrats in our government think that if there is less testing and tracking, there will be better looking results. They just still don't realize that you have to have consistent numbers in order to make the results look believable.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

They’ve got silver balls

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The loud noise and flashing lights frightened the virus away.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Why the inference that pachinko might be more dangerous than crowded trains or shops?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

It's a solo activity and no talks made between players. Seats are kept in distance while the air is sufficiently vented. A thermostat is usually installed at entry, and wearing mask is compulsory inside. The same is almost true for commuting trains.

Don't forget that critical media outlets used to scapegoat pachinko industry, some even demanded immediate closure without any compensation. As things revealed otherwise, they have since remained silent, giving no feedback or follow-ups while instead moving on to try to find another prey.

Due to its dubious commercial practice and vested interests alongside addiction issues, I am essentially critical to pachinko with or without the current virus crisis. Yet scapegoating campaigns targeting the industry last year seemed to me excessive, unfair, unreasonable even unscientific. To err is human; it's a virtue to correct an error. 

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Because they close before 8pm.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The customers probably died from lung cancer before covid could take effect.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Very few clusters compared to everywhere else, methinks, and the reason is because regular life (school, commute to work, etc.) hardly shut down at all, and certainly didn't for the subsequent states of emergency. Also, the idea of the old men in government over where it is most likely to spread is based on biases towards what they consider vice-like behaviour (but then engage in in poorly-veiled secret). Like the ludicrous need to shut down restaurants that serve alcohol, but allow those that don't to stay open (until the virus emerges at exactly 8:00 pm!... Japan time!), etc. Pachinko parlors? BAD! Massage parlors? Well... the non-"soap" kind... voluntary. etc. etc.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Reading the comments here just proves how ignorant far too many people here about pachinko parlors in Japan!

From April of last year, 2020, all pachinko parlors are smoke free, and pachinko parlors have better ventilation systems than just about any building in the country. THAT is also by law!

Also, they installed clear shields between the machines, and with no smoking or any talking, there is little to zero, exchange of anything between customers.

Not to mention that all machines, are wiped down with alcohol after any person uses the machine. The owners know where their money comes from!

I play a few times a month, and as far as I know, there have been ZERO, not few, but ZERO reported clusters anywhere in Japan!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The customers probably died from lung cancer before covid could take effect.

You dont know what you are talking about!

Because they close before 8pm.

In reality and your sarcasm noted, they are open till 11:30PM

The virus couldn't get through all that ciggie smoke lol.

You dont know what you are talking about and it just sounds like you like to repeat something you heard, whether it's a fact or not!

There's honour amongst low-lifes!

Pot-kettle-black!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If you don’t test you don’t find!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Because some people disapprove of pachinko and will use any excuse to point the finger at it. It was the same after the Tohoku disaster during the setsuden period - pachinko was the only business that people ever singled out for criticism for wasting electricity.

There was never any reason whatsoever to suspect that pachinko would be a likely venue for spreading covid - it is extremely easy to take appropriate precautions for a single-player game where the participants sit in one place for an extended period without interacting with others. You're surely far more likely to catch it from taking the train to your favorite parlour than from actually playing it. Meanwhile, restaurants have been open throughout (with varying restrictions) as have offices, gyms, department stores, sports venues etc etc. Simple scapegoating.

If people don't like pachinko they should campaign against it, not pretend that it's going to give you covid. I have no interest in playing it, but in the absence of legislation/enforcement to get rid of it, it's a legitimate business just like any other.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

because no one will admit to having been there.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

A few clusters is a few too many.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

There's honour amongst low-lifes!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Unfortunately in the case of Japan the lack of detailed information thanks to the government strategy of not testing or tracing as in other countries means we can only say that there have been no clusters reported.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Pachinko is a Gambling addiction, the lesser the better, it has destroyed many Japanese families lives, many are in debt due to their gambling addiction, the gambling industry has many lobbyists and it will continue to thrive for as long as the people don't care.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

shhh...reporting that their are so few clusters at Pachinko parlors goes against the narrative. Next you are going to tell us that their are few clusters at onsens. Imagine!?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You should probably start by interviewing people who frequent Pachinko and ask if they've had any symptoms and if so, what did they do, did they have any kind of test?

Otherwise we can just respond with anything.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

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