Japan’s pachinko industry appears to have dismissed a Covid-related state of emergency in four prefectures and ignored governors’ requests that the businesses shut down.
According to Asia Gaming Brief, pachinko parlors “seem to be operating in much the same manner as they had been doing previously.” The Tokyo Amusement Business Cooperative Association has not asked its members to conform with local safety measures and say it’s up to individual business owners.
Some other pachinko companies like Dynam Holdings have posted notices that they will strictly comply with sanitary practices during the emergency. Others haven’t addressed the issue at all, on their websites or elsewhere.
The only concession that seems to have been granted by the industry is that public advertising activities are being suspended for the duration of the emergency and that external neon and flashing lights are being turned off at 8 p.m. each evening, AGB reported.
