TUC Shops

Mode of observation: Sight

TUC shops are small establishments located near pachinko parlors. In principle, pachinko is not one of the sanctioned forms of gambling in Japan, and you’re playing for prizes instead of cash. TUC shops are something of a workaround to this. When you’re done playing, you can be issued prizes (including gold) or a ticket representative of your winnings, which can then be exchanged for cash at the TUC shop.

These shops are often little more than a small window in the side of a building, commonly with a screen in front for privacy.

Note that, while these are called TUC shops in the Tokyo area, they may have other names in other parts of the country (if you happen to know, please let me know). TUC appears to stand for Tokyo Union Corporation, which as far as I can tell manages pachinko parlors and handles gold bullion that is offered as prizes. (Source 1, Source 2, Source 3 (Wikipedia))

See also: https://japantoday.com/category/features/opinions/pachinko-a-brief-guide-to-a-japanese-obsession

Tags: #gambling #adult #entertainment
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