Pachislo (Patch - is - slow) - a Japanese slot machine that generates obnoxious noise and gaudy imagery, and what appears to be a really fucking good time.
Pachislo's are different than normal slot machines because they have LCD screens which video-game-style narratives play out of. Complete with colourful anime style graphics and crazy sound effects and Japanese approximations of American themes like Rambo and Harley Davidson.
There's even an Obama Inauguration pachislo which comes decorated with an image of our main man Barrack, with his arms folded in front of the presidential seal and an American Flag.
Gambling is illegal in Japan, but people sit there glassy eyed in front of these bad boys in "pachinko parlors" for hours, trying to win tokens to trade in for prizes - like cigarette lighters or little boxes, then they can take the prizes to redeeming centers and exchange them for cash. (The process is a bit more involved than here in North America.)
Theres a dude in Brooklyn (Eddie Cramer) who has transformed his entire apartment into a private pachinko parlor. He lives mostly at his girlfriends place so his apartment can be dedicated to his illustrious collection. (What a fucking badass.)
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