CLAIMS TO FAME
- Founded Maruhan in 1957 and still in charge at age 93
- Japan’s largest pachinko operator in revenue terms
Japan’s pachinko industry is facing unprecedented challenges, with government regulations that limit payouts and an aging player base making it difficult to maintain the massive level of demand it once enjoyed.
The result has been considerable consolidation of the industry, with larger operators swallowing up the less fortunate and pachinko parlors closing down nationwide. From a peak of 18,000 parlors in 1995 – when active player numbers were estimated at 30 million – the number of parlors recognized by the local union had fallen to 10,060 by the end of 2018, then to 9,638 by 2019, 8,302 in 2020 and 7,637 in 2021, with active players said to be below 10 million.
But Maruhan – by far the largest pachinko operator in Japan – isn’t going quietly. For the fiscal year ended 31 March 2024, the company reported net sales of JPY1.43 billion (US$9.53 billion), up 8.3% compared with the prior year. This is rapidly approaching the JPY1.55 trillion (US$10.3 billion) reported in the 12 months to March 2019 and JPY1.51 trillion (US$10.0 billion) in FY20.
Maruhan’s founder, 93-year-old Japanese-Korean businessman Han Chang-woo, continues to power along, ably supported by his son and Maruhan COO Yu Han.
Founded in 1957, Maruhan’s parlors – the first to bring pachinko into the modern age by offering cleaner and more light-filled venues – are considered to be larger and more inviting than those offered by smaller rivals, giving it an edge over those who can’t afford to offer the same ancillary facilities.
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