Explaining the Difficulty of Translating Pachinko and Pachislot Terms and the Ease of English Itself

長北真 Pachinko the WORLD！海外と外国人とジャパニーズパチンコ事情

So, this time again, I'd like to talk about foreigners and pachinko, but it seems like there's not much to talk about anymore, so I'm thinking of switching to irregular serialization from around next time.

I can't believe I managed to write this much.

However, there are a few more points I'd like to talk about, so let's cover those a bit. Specifically, it's about the difficulty of "Pachinko Translation" and the fact that "Pachinko is actually a product born in a great history and occupies a quite unique position worldwide."

So, it's time for "The Difficulty of Pachinko Translation" part one, which means it's time for some English study.

While saying I'll stop next time, the schedule for the next next time keeps coming up. Writing is a strange thing, isn't it?

Pachinko (Pachislot) and English

First, as a premise, it might not be directly related to pachinko, but I'd like to provide an opportunity for the 80% or 97.5% of Japanese people who are said to dislike English to touch English. It's okay, did the 97.5% make you excited? Learning opportunity!

The idea that Pachinko players (slot players) may actually know English

For those of you who might think, "I don't usually deal with English at all, I don't know anything!" For now, please take a look at the following image:

▲ Is it a single hit? No, it's not.

What does it say?

Total Get: 192
Vendetta Mode: 1
Bonus: 1

It's English, right? You can read it. What about the meanings?

Total, Get, Vendetta, Mode, Bonus.

That's five words. Vendetta might have been a bit difficult, but words like "Vendetta" are rarely used in daily life except for people on a journey to seek revenge for their parents, so it's okay if you don't understand it.

The number of words set by the Practical English Proficiency Test (Eiken) for each level is

1st grade (upper college level): 10,000-15,000 words
Semi-1st grade (upper intermediate level): 7,500-9,000
words 2nd grade (high school graduate level): 3,800-5,100words
Semi-2nd grade (mid-high school level): 2,600-3,600 words
3rd grade (middle school graduate level): 1,250-2,100 words
4th grade (mid-junior high school level): 600-1,300 words
5th grade (beginner junior high school level): 300-600 words

It's about this much.

Furthermore, in terms of vocabulary, it's said that the level at which a person is considered to have "acquired" the language is about 3,000 words. If it's about the Eiken Grade 3 level, you might manage... you might even make it to Semi-2nd grade if you try a little harder, right?

"No, I don't know about that!" Are you still denying it?

Hello
Man
Woman
Website
Template
Simple
Download
Lever
Button
Tool

...You could read them, right? Even in Japanese, there are English words mixed in. Sometimes they have different meanings from their original meanings (like Salaryman. It should be Office worker, Company employee, etc.).

Most readers, depending on their current age and educational background, generally know about this much but can't use it. But if you can use a little English, it might be useful in daily life, or maybe your workplace is becoming a bit more global, and you're starting to see English in documents. Yes, that's right. This text is for you.

So why can't they use it? Because they don't have enough opportunities to use it, and the habit of "thinking in English" hasn't developed. That's all there is to it. So all you need to do is develop that habit.

Grammar Basics

You don't need to think too hard. Basically, as long as it's a list of words, the meaning will be understood, and English grammar is ridiculously simple, so in most cases, it follows these patterns:

Whether it's present (now, past, future) and ongoing (present progressive) or whether it's something that has already happened (perfect form)
Subject + Verb
When asking questions, add a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how) at the beginning

That's it for the basics.

Past Tense
George did grab the handle.
Skipping the parts that overlap with what I explained earlier, did: It indicates that you're talking about something that happened in the past. That's the past tense.

Future Tense
George will go all-in for this machine.
Just add "Will" between the subject and the verb. It sounds like a familiar sentence, doesn't it? It seems very everyday, so it's become a very everyday expression.

Question Form
Why do you go all-in for this machine?
As mentioned earlier, just add a question word like "Why." It's okay whether or not there's "Do."

Anything else...? Did you know that humans can only remember up to seven things at once? People with good memory can remember nine, people with poor memory can remember five, and I can remember three. Most people can manage with four.

Another important thing is to imagine in your head what you're doing or trying to do in English. Specifically, things like"turning the handle," "pressing the middle button," "hitting a bonus jackpot of 1,000 games since the last bonus." So, here are the English sentences:

Turning the handle
Squeeze the handle.

Pressing from the center
Press from center (button).

Played 1,000 games after the previous bonus.

If you add "I" or "He" and "was" or "will," it becomes a sentence, and if you add "Why," it becomes a question. Starting to look feasible, isn't it?

What about listening?

Could you speak a bit slowly?
If you remember just this much, you'll be 90% there. Nobody says, "I hate that!" Just keep repeating until you can listen at the speed you're comfortable with.

Okay, so now your grammar and listening are perfect. Congratulations, everyone, you're 80% perfect. Well done, you've already completed everyday conversations, and there are no problems at all. But here's the real issue.

Why hasn't pachinko, pachislot been explained in such a simple language until now? The next paragraph is the answer to everything.

I don't understand the terms used in pachinko and pachislot! This is the real issue. Both pachinko and pachislot have

I don't understand the terms used in Pachinko and Pachislot!

It's a common issue indeed. Both Pachinko and Pachislot come with a plethora of specialized terms, which often pose a significant challenge for newcomers.

In this context, I'll provide explanations by paraphrasing from commonly seen foreigner-oriented pamphlets found in Pachinko parlors, while correcting some common translation mistakes:

Coin Sand:
Incorrect: Coin Sand
Correct: Token dispenser
The term "sand" here refers to a slang for machines sandwiched between other machines. Direct translation would mean "sand," but it actually refers to the token dispenser.[1]

ヘソ (Heso):
Incorrect: Belly button (Heso)
Correct: Center pocket
While "ヘソ" visually resembles a belly button, it actually refers to the center pocket on a Pachinko machine. Translating it as "Heso" wouldn't convey the intended meaning well; "Center pocket" is more appropriate.[1]

ブッコミ (Bukkomi):
Incorrect: Bukkomi
Correct: Nails on top left
"ブッコミ" is not a common term, and its direct translation wouldn't make sense. "Nails on top left" is a more accurate description, though the term itself is not widely used in current contexts.[1]

Understanding these nuances requires familiarity with Pachinko terminology and the ability to translate effectively.

In the next session, I'll delve into the challenges faced during my journey from returning to Japan to establishing a company over a year. Stay tuned!

We are seeking participants to experience pachinko through our pachinko tours!

Click here for pachinko tour information for foreigners

We have organized a special tour to introduce pachinko, a traditional Japanese form of entertainment, to our foreign friends. On this tour, you will be accompanied by an instructor who is fluent in English and well-versed in pachinko, providing detailed guidance from the basics to advanced techniques. Pachinko, known for its bright lights and unique sounds, has been a beloved game in Japan for over 80 years. Although the tour is just two hours, it offers a wealth of knowledge about pachinko's history and how to play!