Contextualizing Min Jin Lee's Pachinko
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Dear READER, Winter/Spring 2021 SQUARE BOOKS TOP 100 of 2020 to Understate It—2020 Was Not Square Books’ Best Year
Dear READER, Winter/Spring 2021 SQUARE BOOKS TOP 100 OF 2020 To understate it—2020 was not Square Books’ best year. Like everyone, we struggled—but we are grateful to remain in business, and that all the booksellers here are healthy. When Covid19 arrived, our foot-traffic fell precipitously, and sales with it—2020 second-quarter sales were down 52% from those of the same period in 2019. But our many loyal customers adjusted along with us as we reopened operations when we were more confident of doing business safely. The sales trend improved in the third quarter, and November/December were only slightly down compared to those two months last year. We are immensely grateful to those of you who ordered online or by phone, allowing us to ship, deliver, or hold for curbside pickup, or who waited outside our doors to enter once our visitor count was at capacity. It is only through your abiding support that Square Books remains in business, ending the year down 30% and solid footing to face the continuing challenge of Covid in 2021. And there were some very good books published, of which one hundred bestsellers we’ll mention now. (By the way, we still have signed copies of many of these books; enquire accordingly.) Many books appear on this list every year—old favorites, if you will, including three William Faulkner books: Selected Short Stories (37th on our list) which we often recommend to WF novices, The Sound and the Fury (59) and As I Lay Dying (56), as well as a notably good new biography of Faulkner by Michael Gorra, The Saddest Words: William Faulkner’s Civil War (61). -
Problem Gambling: How Japan Could Actually Become the Next Las Vegas
[Type here] PROBLEM GAMBLING: HOW JAPAN COULD ACTUALLY BECOME THE NEXT LAS VEGAS Jennifer Roberts and Ted Johnson INTRODUCTION Although with each passing day it appears less likely that integrated resorts with legalized gaming will become part of the Tokyo landscape in time for the city’s hosting of the summer Olympics in 20201, there is still substantial international interest in whether Japan will implement a regulatory system to oversee casino-style gaming. In 2001, Macau opened its doors for outside companies to conduct casino gaming operations as part of its modernized gaming regulatory system.2 At that time, it was believed that Macau would become the next Las Vegas.3 Just a few years after the new resorts opened, many operated by Las Vegas casino company powerhouses, Macau surpassed Las Vegas as the “gambling center” at one point.4 With tighter restrictions and crackdowns on corruption, Macau has since experienced declines in gaming revenue.5 When other countries across Asia have either contemplated or adopted gaming regulatory systems, it is often believed that they could become the 1 See 2020 Host City Election, OLYMPIC.ORG, http://www.olympic.org/2020-host- city-election (last visited Oct. 25, 2015). 2 Macau Gaming Summary, UNLV CTR. FOR GAMING RES., http://gaming. unlv.edu/ abstract/macau.html (last visited Oct. 25, 2015). 3 David Lung, Introduction: The Future of Macao’s Past, in THE CONSERVATION OF URBAN HERITAGE: MACAO VISION – INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE xiii, xiii (The Cultural Inst. of the Macao S. A. R. Gov’t: Studies, Research & Publ’ns Div. 2002), http://www.macauheritage.net/en/knowledge/vision/vision_xxi.pdf (noting, in 2002, of outside investment as possibly creating a “Las Vegas of the East”). -
Azure Sky (SOUTEN) Emblazoned with Gold. the All-New Pachinko CR
Review of Activities Looking Back with a “Key Person” Review of Activities up to the Second Quarter Azure sky (SOUTEN) Joint hosting of the “Universal emblazoned with gold. The Carnival” × “Sammy Festival” all-new Pachinko CR SOUTEN- Sammy Corporation and Universal Entertainment Cor- NO-KEN Tenki is here! poration teamed up to hold the largest ever “Pachinko Pachislot Fan Event ‘Universal Carnival × Sammy Pachinko CR SOUTEN-NO-KEN Tenki, the Festival 2016,’” for “fans and the media to get pumped latest sequel in the popular series up” for the major pachinko and pachislot titles and Pachinko CR SOUTEN-NO-KEN, was content owned by the two companies, on July 24 at launched in August 2016. Players can en- Tokyo Big Sight. The event featured a test play section joy this new SOUTEN-NO-KEN, which featuring many classic models that made history for features the newly equipped K.O.V. (Knock both of the companies and the latest models that are Out Vision) that spans the entire pachinko yet to be introduced in pachinko halls, events with a board with a never before seen action se- total of 100 guests including writers, manga artists and quence and Soryu Tenra gimmicks with voice actors, as well as pro wrestling and sales of origi- LCD light shows updated from the past nal goods and collaboration goods. Jointly holding the series. Pachinko CR SOUTEN-NO-KEN Tenki largest ever pachinko and pachislot “festival” produced ©Tetsuo Hara & Buronson/NSP 2001, Approved No.YDM-406 ©Sammy a synergy effect that attracted nearly over 16,500 fans KEY PERSON around the country, and the event ended as a huge success. -
How a Family Tradition Endures
SOCIETY SOCIETY Left, Min Jin Lee, in blue, and her sisters celebrate the New Year in Seoul, 1976; below, Ms. Lee’s parents, Mi Hwa Lee (left) and Boo Choon Lee, do likewise in New Jersey, 2005. MY KOREAN NEW YEAR How a family tradition endures By Min Jin Lee y finest hour as a Korean took According to Seollal tradition, a Korean has Upon the completion of a bow, we’d receive an practice of observing Jan. 1 as New Year’s Day, place on a Seollal morning, the to eat a bowl of the bone-white soup filled with elder’s blessing and money. A neighborhood when it’s called Shinjeong. Some Koreans still first day of Korean New Year’s, in coin-shaped slices of chewy rice cake in order to bowing tour to honor the elders could yield a do. Consequently the country now observes January 1976. age a year—a ritual far more appreciated early handsome purse. two different national holidays as New Year’s— I was 7 years old, and my in life. The garnishes vary by household; my My cousins and my older sister Myung Jin one on Jan. 1 and the other according to the Mfamily still lived in Seoul, where my two sisters family topped our soup with seasoned finished in a jiffy and collected their rewards. moon. When we moved to the U.S., Jan. 1 and I had been born. Seollal, the New Year’s Day shredded beef, toasted laver (thin sheets of Uncle and Aunt waited for me to bow. -
2020/02/05 FY Ending March 2020 3Q Results / Appendix
FY Ending March 2020 3Q Results / Appendix February 5, 2020 [Disclaimer] The contents of this material and comments made during the questions and answers etc. of this briefing session are the judgment and projections of the Company’s managements based on currently available information. These contents involve risk and uncertainty and the actual results may differ materially from these contents/comments. © SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS INC. All Rights Reserved. Results Highlights 3Q Results Forecast Both sales and profit increased YoY Revised full-year operating results forecast Sales unit increased in Pachislot and Pachinko Sales 390.0 ⇒ 367.0 billion yen machines business Operating Income 27.0 ⇒ 27.0 billion yen Digital Games area in Entertainment Contents Consolidated Business performed solidly. While Pachislot and Pachinko Machines Business fell short of initial forecast due to a decline in sales units, Business Recorded extraordinary income associated Digital Games area in Entertainment Contents Business with transfer of non-current assets improved Net income increased due to the recognition of extraordinary income associated with the transfer of non-current assets and the decrease of tax expenses. Profitability improved YoY due to Revised the number of titles and sales units Pachislot and increased pachislot sales units forecast Pachinko Pachislot : "Pachislot Hokuto No Ken Tenshou" Pachislot : "Pachislot PHANTASY STAR ONLINE 2" “Pachislot Psalms of Planets "Pachislot 〈Monogatari〉 Series Machines Eureka Seven 3 HI-EVOLUTION ZERO" Secondseason" Business Pachinko: “P GAOGAOKING 3” Pachinko: "P SOUTEN-NO-KEN Souryu," “P The Seven deadly Sins Elizabeth ver.” "P BIG DREAM2 GEKISHIN," etc. Digital Games area in Entertainment Several new titles are planned to launch for Entertainment Contents Business performed solidly. -
Countries That Reject Legalized Casino Gambling
Why They Say “No” (Casi “NO”) Countries that Reject Legalized Casino Gambling William N. Thompson Emeritus Professor of Public Administration University of Nevada Las Vegas A Presentation to the 8th European Conference on Gambling Studies and Policy Issues September 14-17, 2010 Vienna I. The Worldwide Spread of Casino Gaming 1986---77 casino countries 1996---109 Today---132 II. Exceptions to the Trends Bhutan, Brazil, Japan, Liechtenstein, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, and Norway Left off the list are (1) Islamic nations and (2) enclave states and venues in control of other jurisdictions -- Hong Kong, San Marino, Andorra, Samoa and Guam (3) smaller island countries— Barbados, The Caymans, [southern] Cyprus (4) places that have tolerated open casinos, or had them on an “off and on” basis— Bolivia, Guatemala, Venezuela, Sri Lanka and Turkey III. The Veto Model in the U.S.A. The Last Resort: Success and Failure in Campaigns for Casinos, (John Dombrink and William N. Thompson, University of Nevada Press, 1990). Major “veto” factors influencing American casino campaign outcomes (1) the economic conditions (2) state experience with gambling (3) the position of political and business elites, and other gaming interests (4) campaign sponsorship (5) whether the dominant issue in a campaign was economics or crime and social problems For successful campaigns (e.g. Atlantic City, 1976), all major factors had to be supportive of casinos. IV. The Veto Modified with Irish Experience—Seven Factors 1. Personality and the “All In” Spirit” A spirit which won independence may not be desirable at gaming tables, indeed may be tied to addictive behaviors. -
Casino Boss Francis Lui Won Big in Macau, but His Next
IT DIDN’T QUITE WORK OUT THAT WAY. A partnership with an American casino operator fi zzled, so after running a couple of card clubs in other peo- ple’s hotels, his family’s irm, Galaxy Entertainment Group, built one of Macau’s new glittering casinos BY RUSSELL PEARLMAN in 2006. That and building two other incredibly successful casinos in Macau transformed Lui, 62, from the ambitious son of a wealthy Hong Kong con- struction magnate into one of the world’s richest men. In turn, Lui helped transform Macau—which over the past several hundred years has been, in turn, a waystation for refugees fl eeing the Mongols, a bustling Portuguese-run trading colony, a haven for CASINO BOSS early-20th-century gangsters and a neutral port in the storm of World War II—into its latest incarnation: the world’s biggest betting parlor. Gamblers drop more than FRANCIS LUI WON BIG $28 billion a year betting at Macau’s casinos. Las Vegas doesn’t even get one-quarter of that. But instead of sitting back and enjoying Macau’s current form, he’s at the forefront of trying to reinvent the area yet IN MACAU, BUT HIS again. He’s making a multibillion-dollar bet that Macau’s next reinvention won’t involve much gambling at all. Over the next few years, Galaxy wants to add NEXT BET BARELY 10.7 million square feet of space to its existing Galaxy Macau resort, nearly doubling its size. It potentially will include a convention center, a concert venue with INVOLVES GAMBLING. -
Make Pachislot and Pachinko Machines
Business Strategy by Segment SPECIAL TOPIC 1 DIALOGUE Make pachislot and pachinko machines “a familiar pastime” Haruki Satomi President and Group COO (Representative Director) As the number of pachislot and pachinko users SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS INC. continues to decline due to the revision of regulations and diversification of entertainment, the pachislot and pachinko industry is required to make concerted efforts to return to “a familiar pastime.” Takuro Nishimura, President and CEO of Nittaku Holdings CO., Ltd., and Haruki Satomi, Group COO, President of our company, discussed the future of the industry. Takuro Nishimura President and Chief Executive Officer Nittaku Holdings Co., Ltd. Overview of the Nittaku Group Established in 1965 as a real estate developer. As a result of diversification, the company is now operating real estate development, rental buildings, pachinko parlors, and game centers under the motto of “Urban leisure and service indus- tries” which is based on profits from commercial real estate located in urban areas. The company’s name “Nittaku” reflects the company’s founding spirit of “Reinventing ourselves daily and opening the way for the future.” 44 SEGA SAMMY HOLDINGS Pachislot and Entertainment Resort Pachinko Machines Contents To make pachislot and pachinko an enjoyable At its peak in the early 1990s, more than 20 years ago, pachislot and and familiar entertainment regardless of past pachinko machines were said to have about 30 million users. However, the number has now fallen to less than about 10 million. In the past, Pachinko developed amid the chaos of the postwar entertainment had limited options, such as movies, travel, and pachinko Nishimura era, and during the period of rapid economic growth, parlors, but now there is a wide variety of entertainment and the current it became a familiar form of entertainment. -
Responsible Gaming Features for Atms and Accessing Money at Gaming Venues
Responsible Gaming Features for ATMs and Accessing Money at Gaming Venues: An Impact Evaluation of Suppression Features on Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Gaming Venues Prepared by RG Plus The Responsible Gambling Council Submitted to Trust Networks Inc. April 2021 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 1 Literature Review ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Regulatory Review and Key Informant Interviews ................................................................................... 1 Survey of Pachinko Players ....................................................................................................................... 1 Analysis of Transaction Data ..................................................................................................................... 2 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................. 3 LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................................................... 4 ATM Use and Gambling Harm ................................................................................................................... 4 Placement of ATMs in Gambling Venues ................................................................................................. -
Racism in Education: Discrimination Against Korean Schools
Recent Events in Japan Racism in Education: making a final decision until the end of July. Discrimination against Korean Schools In any case, why must Korean schools Young Kim face discrimination simply because of the abduction cases? These abduction incidents The issue surrounding National are a truly serious national crime. However, University entrance exam qualifications for is discrimination justified because this is a ethnic school students is about to face the school supporting such a government? If so, Ministry of Education’s blatant discriminatory the Japanese government is doing the same tactics. thing as those who have repeatedly harassed In March of this year, the Ministry Korean students since the abduction issue came announced that graduates of ethnic schools, out into the open. The decisions of the except the 16 International Schools recognized Ministry hurt the children just as the burden of by US and British accrediting bodies, will be verbal and physical harassments. deprived of the right to apply directly for The children of the North Korean school admission to national universities. faced an enormous shock on September 17th, Presently, there are a number of ethnic when the abduction issue came out. Adults and schools, including Korean Schools, Korean teachers told them that abduction did not exist, Gakuen, Chinese schools, and Brazilian and until that day, the children believed what schools. Amongst these ethnic schools, there they had been told. Learning of the shocking are around 100 Korean schools including 12 reality that the abduction suspicion was true high schools. The true, hidden reason behind hurt the children tremendously. -
Pachinko by Min Jin
Pachinko Discussion Questions 1. The novel's opening sentence reads, "History has failed us, but no matter." What does the sentence mean, and what expectations might it establish for the reader? Why the tail end of the sentence, "but no matter"? 2. Talk about the thematic significance of the book's title. Pachinko is a sort of slot/pinball game played throughout Japan, and it's arcades are also a way for foreigners to find work and accumulate money. 3. What are the cultural differences between Korea and Japan? 4. As "Zainichi," non-Japanese, how are Koreans treated in Japan? What rules must they adhere to, and what restrictions apply to them? Author: Min Jin Lee 5. Follow-up to Questions 3 and 4: Discuss the theme of belonging, which is Originally published: pervades this novel. How does where one "belongs" tie into self-identity? February 7, 2017 Consider Mozasu and his son, Solomon. In what ways are their experiences Genre: Historical Fiction, Domestic fiction similar when it comes to national identity? How do both of them feel toward the Japanese? 6. How is World War II viewed in this novel—especially from the perspective of the various characters living in Japan? Has reading about the war through their eyes altered your own understanding of the war? 7. How would you describe Sunja and Isak. How do their differing innate talents complement one another and enable them to survive in Japan? 8. Are there particular characters you were drawn to more than others, perhaps even those who are morally compromised? If so who...and why? Author Bio • Birth: 1968, Seoul, South Korea; Raised: Borough of Queens, New York • Education: B.A., Yale University; J.D., Georgetown University • Currently: Lives in New York, NY Min Jin Lee is a Korean-American writer and author, whose work frequently deals with Korean American topics. -
Pachinko.Pdf
RESOURCES BOOK REVIEW ESSAYS Pachinko Like the pachinko balls themselves, the many By Min Jin Lee generations of the Korean family in the novel New York: Grand Central Publishing, 2017 bounce off the pins and bumpers of life, without 512 pages, ISBN: 978-1455563920, Paperback much say in the direction of their lives. Reviewed by Charles Newell achinko, a game of chance not skill, modern world that reject tradition for immediacy. Should tradition and is a rather curious Japanese amuse- family values be ignored for survival and success? This question runs as ment. It can best be described as a an undercurrent throughout the novel. This burden/question falls most Pcombination of pinball and a slot machine. heavily on the women in the family, who are the keepers and sustainers of Players purchase small silver balls that they family life and culture. drop or launch into the vertical pachinko Despite its focus on modern themes, such as the destruction of tradi- machine. The balls bounce off pins and tional values, this novel is written in a very conventional and linear narra- bumpers, and players hope the balls land tive style. Each chapter of the novel is a sort of vignette of a character’s life in cups or slots that will win them prizes at a moment in time. To cover a seventy-nine-year time period, Lee often or money. However, the game usually ends skips years ahead from one chapter to the next, focusing on the next major with the balls dropping out the bottom of conflict in a character’s path.