Pachinko Machine Parlors Remain Open in Sendai
Sendai is one of the hardest hit cities in Japan, and things here have certainly not returned to normal. All of the businesses that are still open in the city close by 5pm now, except for two odd exceptions: pachinko machine parlors and hairdressers remain open late.
Pachinko is a type of Japanese slot machine, and the parlors allow people to circumvent bans on casinos as they gamble with thousands of tiny metal balls, trade them in for prizes, and then sell the prizes for money. The pachinko machines are loud with flashing lights everywhere. As patrons sit with intense concentration in front of these machines, there is no talking. And the odds must not be that much better then the slot machines in Vegas, because it's clear that the pachinko parlors are thriving. The hairdressers are open for shampoos and maybe a haircut, even though water, and especially hot water, is hard to come by for many.