I never knew it actually existed but there is actually a pachinko academy where one can learn there is to know about what is to one of Japanese favorite pastime.

The academy is located near Shinjuku Station, and according to the president,

“Our students either want to change their career, or they are already working in pachinko and need to learn more.”

Classes include such subjects as programming of the machines, selecting background animations, marketing and management. Live machines in rows make the classroom look like a real parlor.

The industry employs 300,000 people at its 14,000 parlors and in 2006, generated 25 trillion yen in turnover. This figure eclipses those of the lotteries, boat racing, horse racing, and other types of gambling combined.

Last year, Forbes included two pachinko company presidents, Kunio Busujima of Sankyo and Han Chang-Woo of Maruhan, in their list of “Japan’s 40 Richest.”

Source: JapanToday

Looks like Pachinko is really big business in Japan. Have you tried your hand at Pachinko, or would you like to try it out if you ever visit Japan?