Basic Info.

​Pachinko is an epic drama based on Min Jin Lee’s New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, chronicling the journey of four generations of a Korean immigrant family striving for survival and prosperity. Spanning from the Japanese colonial era to the present day, the series weaves a sweeping narrative that delves into the painful history of a nation, portraying the lives and struggles of protagonist Sunja and her family as they migrate from Korea to Japan.​

Additional Info.

​"Pachinko is one of Japan’s gambling cultures that has long been highlighted as a social issue. However, Koreans living in Japan (Zainichi), who settled there during the Japanese colonial period and afterward, faced extreme discrimination, resulting in very limited career options. Japanese companies often refused to hire people solely because they were Zainichi. As a result, Zainichi had three main options to achieve economic success. The first was to join a criminal organization like the Yakuza, the second was to pursue a career in sports, and the third was to run self-employed businesses such as pachinko parlors or Korean restaurants. In fact, many pachinko parlors in Japan today are owned and operated by Zainichi. As the title of the drama Pachinko suggests, the pachinko business serves as a central element of the story. It is portrayed not just as a gambling establishment, but as a desperate workplace for survival. The drama explores the social discrimination and struggles for survival faced by the characters. In one scene, the characters are shown dancing in a pachinko parlor, which can be interpreted as an ironic depiction of the harsh reality of their lives there."​