She lost her man, her money, and her dignity—so she became a pachinko queen.
Nishihara Chieri, who works at a financial company, lives a modest life. One day, she is deceived by her boyfriend, Muneo, and ends up in debt of 5 million yen. If she doesn't pay it back within a month, he will find out and fire her. She frantically tries to find money, but she can't seem to save up any. Then, at a pachinko slot machine cash exchange, she spots a man with a large sum of money. "Pachinko slot machines can make money!" Chieri thinks, and immediately goes to play the slots, but it's not that easy to win. Chieri is at a loss, but by chance she sits next to Shunsuke, a slot machine pro, and he ends up teaching her how to play.
Acting
Miri Sugihara's manic desperation is genuinely compelling.
Production
Authentic pachinko parlor atmosphere, neon and smoke.
Director
Jirō Ishikawa
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Pink films of this era often used genre hooks to explore working-class women's economic desperation under Japan's Lost Decade.
Director Jirō Ishikawa was reportedly obsessed with pachinko himself and insisted on shooting in actual parlors during operating hours.
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