パチンコぱちんこpachinko· Pachinko
A vertical ball game: you fire small steel balls up a board of pins, and balls landing in the start pocket trigger an on-screen lottery.
Source: Pachinko Industry Web Reference · More on “Pachinko”
Japanese → English
Glossary: Japanese pachinko words
45 words you’ll meet on screens, buttons and signs, with the kana reading, romaji and a plain-English meaning. Save this page to your phone before you go.
The basics
パチスロ / スロットぱちすろ / すろっとpachisuro / surotto· Pachislot / "slot"
Japan’s three-reel machine, played with medals or electronic credits. You stop each reel yourself with a button. In halls it’s usually just called "slot".
Source: DMM Pachitown pachislot guide · More on “Pachislot / "slot"”
スマパチすまぱちsumapachi· Smart pachinko
Pachinko machines with the balls sealed inside the cabinet and counted electronically. Introduced in 2023. Names usually start with a lowercase "e".
Source: Sammy: smart pachislot & pachinko · More on “Smart pachinko”
スマスロすますろsumasuro· Smart pachislot
Pachislot machines with electronic medals (credits) and no medal slot. Introduced from November 2022. Official names start with "L".
Source: Sammy: smart pachislot & pachinko · More on “Smart pachislot”
P / e / S / Lぴー / いー / えす / えるpī / ī / esu / eru· Machine-name prefixes
Letters at the start of official machine names: P = conventional pachinko, e = smart pachinko, S = conventional pachislot, L = smart pachislot.
Source: Machine-name prefixes explained (Japanese) · More on “Machine-name prefixes”
台だいdai· Machine
A machine, as in a pachinko or pachislot machine. Also used as the counter word when counting machines.
Source: Pachinko Industry Web Reference
玉たまtama· Ball(s)
The small steel balls used in pachinko. They’re rented, played and counted, and must stay inside the hall.
メダルめだるmedaru· Medals
The tokens used in pachislot. On a 20-yen machine, ¥1,000 typically gets about 50 medals (often slightly fewer once tax is included).
In the hall
サンドさんどsando· Lending unit
The slim unit beside each machine that takes banknotes and shows your cash balance.
Source: Japanese Slot Guide: how to start playing · More on “Lending unit”
球貸 / 貸出たまかし / かしだしtamakashi / kashidashi· Lend (rent) button
Converts part of your cash balance into balls or medals. At 4-yen pachinko, one press usually gives ¥500 worth: 125 balls.
Source: Pachinko Industry Web Reference · More on “Lend (rent) button”
返却へんきゃくhenkyaku· Return button
Ejects your card with any remaining cash balance. Don’t forget to take the card!
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Return button”
呼出よびだしyobidashi· Staff call button
Calls an attendant: to count your balls or medals, to fix a jam, or whenever you’re unsure.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Staff call button”
精算機せいさんきseisanki· Refund machine
Refunds any unused cash left on your card. Use it the same day, because afterwards the balance can usually only be used at that hall.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Refund machine”
ハンドルはんどるhandoru· Handle
The pachinko firing handle. About a third of a turn is the usual position for normal play.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Handle”
会員カードかいいんかーどkaiin kādo· Member card
A hall’s membership card. Regulars use it to store balls or medals at that hall for a later visit.
Source: Fuei Journal: Fueiho Article 23 · More on “Member card”
貯玉ちょだまchodama· Stored balls
Balls or medals saved on a member card instead of being exchanged. The law bans paper receipts for stored balls.
Source: Fuei Journal: Fueiho Article 23 · More on “Stored balls”
ちょっと休憩ちょっときゅうけいchotto kyūkei· Short-break button
On many smart-machine units, locks the machine and returns your card. Insert the same card to carry on.
Source: Sammy: smart pachislot & pachinko · More on “Short-break button”
喫煙室きつえんしつkitsuenshitsu· Smoking room
Since April 2020, smoking in halls is limited to dedicated rooms (20+ only), not at the machines.
Source: AsGam: smoking rooms after the April 2020 ban · More on “Smoking room”
Pachinko screen & play
ヘソ / スタートチャッカーへそ / すたーとちゃっかーheso / sutāto chakkā· Start pocket
The pocket in the middle of the board. Each ball that lands here starts one lottery draw on the screen.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Start pocket”
アタッカーあたっかーatakkā· Attacker
A gate that opens during a jackpot. Every ball that goes in pays out more balls.
左打ちひだりうちhidari-uchi· Shoot left
Normal play: balls arc over the top and fall down the left side of the board.
右打ちみぎうちmigi-uchi· Shoot right
When the screen shows 右打ち or a right arrow, turn the handle all the way right to hit the attacker on the right side.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Shoot right”
保留ほりゅうhoryū· Held draws
Extra draws stored while the screen is still spinning, commonly up to four, shown as small icons.
リーチりーちrīchi· "Reach"
Two matching symbols with the third still spinning. Dramatic, but most reaches miss. The result is already decided.
大当たりおおあたりōatari· Jackpot
Three matching symbols on the screen. The attacker opens and pays out balls.
確変かくへんkakuhen· Probability change
A mode after some jackpots in which the chance of another jackpot is raised.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Probability change”
時短じたんjitan· Time shortening
A mode where spins run faster for a set number of draws, while jackpot odds return to normal.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Time shortening”
ミドルみどるmidoru· Middle spec
The most common machine type: jackpot odds of roughly 1/199 to 1/349, with bigger payouts.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Middle spec”
甘デジあまでじamadeji· "Sweet digital"
Lighter machines with jackpot odds of roughly 1/70 to 1/128: smaller, more frequent wins.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “"Sweet digital"”
羽根物はねものhanemono· Wing machine
A classic type where opening "wings" catch a ball that must then drop into a V-zone. Low risk, low return.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “Wing machine”
1円パチンコいちえんぱちんこichi-en pachinko· 1-yen pachinko
Low-rate rows where each ball costs ¥1 instead of the standard ¥4. The gentlest way to start.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachinko guide · More on “1-yen pachinko”
Pachislot
MAX BETまっくすべっとmakkusu betto· Max bet button
Bets the standard three medals (or credits) in one press. Then pull the lever to spin.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachislot guide · More on “Max bet button”
BIG / REG (BB / RB)びっぐ / れぎゅらーbiggu / regyurā· Big and regular bonuses
The two classic pachislot bonuses. BIG pays more medals than REG. On Juggler, 7-7-7 is a BIG.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachislot guide · More on “Big and regular bonuses”
AT / CZえーてぃー / しーぜっとē tī / shī zetto· Assist time / chance zone
Features of many modern machines: chance zones, bonuses and assist-time modes, with the screen telling you which order to stop the reels.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachislot guide · More on “Assist time / chance zone”
設定せっていsettei· Setting
Internal pachislot settings chosen by the hall that affect bonus frequency. You can’t see them, and halls may not advertise them.
Source: Greenbelt: 2011 NPA advertising notice (Japanese) · More on “Setting”
5円スロットごえんすろっとgo-en surotto· 5-yen slots
Low-rate pachislot rows where each medal costs ¥5 instead of the standard ¥20.
Source: DMM Pachitown pachislot guide · More on “5-yen slots”
ジャグラーじゃぐらーjugurā· Juggler
A long-running, simple pachislot series often recommended to beginners: a lamp lights up when you’ve won a bonus.
Prizes & exchange
景品カウンターけいひんかうんたーkeihin kauntā· Prize counter
Where you swap your counted balls or medals for prizes: snacks, everyday goods, souvenirs and more.
Source: Pachinko Industry Web Reference · More on “Prize counter”
特殊景品とくしゅけいひんtokushu keihin· Special prizes
Prizes such as small pieces of gold sealed in plastic. They play a role in the three-shop system.
Source: Pachinko Industry Web Reference · More on “Special prizes”
一般景品いっぱんけいひんippan keihin· Ordinary prizes
Everyday prizes at the counter: snacks, drinks, daily necessities, brand goods and souvenirs.
Source: Pachinko Industry Web Reference · More on “Ordinary prizes”
三店方式さんてんほうしきsanten hōshiki· Three-shop system
The arrangement in which hall, exchange booth and wholesaler are separate businesses, so the hall itself never pays cash.
Source: Pachinko Industry Web Reference · More on “Three-shop system”
Law & rules
風営法ふうえいほうFūeihō· Amusement Business Act
The Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Business, the law that licenses pachinko halls and regulates their hours, advertising and prizes.
Source: e-Gov: the Fueiho (full text, Japanese) · More on “Amusement Business Act”
第4号営業だいよんごうえいぎょうdai-yon-gō eigyō· "Item 4" business
The licence category for pachinko and pachislot halls under the Fueiho.
Source: Fuei Journal: Fueiho Article 23 · More on “"Item 4" business”
公安委員会こうあんいいんかいkōan iinkai· Public safety commission
The prefectural body that grants hall licences and enforces the rules.
Source: Pachinko Industry Web Reference: law · More on “Public safety commission”
18歳未満じゅうはっさいみまんjūhassai miman· Under 18
People under 18 may not enter pachinko halls. Staff may ask for ID such as a passport.