Lovely photos there, Lisbeth. I always love seeing Japan through Westerner's eyes.

You wonder: "I was told the name of this form of "game" but have forgotten it. It's got something to do with pouring a lot of the small metallic balls you see in the front into the machine." The name of the game is - as many Nipponfiles out there know - pachinko. The aim of the game is to turn a little knob and make the metallic balls drop into the holes that give the most points - ie more balls. Officially you can exchange the balls you win for presents, but unoficially you go outside the game parlour and into the parking lot and exchange your 'gifts' for cool cash. This is big business for the Yakuza as they collect protection money from the parlours.

Wikipedia describes it quite nicely too I think: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachinko

.: Tore Vesterby :: http://vesterblog.dk :.
 

Yes, Pachinko! Of course. Thanks for the info, Tore, I'll update the photoblog asap :)).