'The Reward is the Talent's Smile': The Dedicated Manager

Yes. Currently, I am a talent for pachinko and slot machines, or a producer of companions, and also handle sales. Specifically, for each talent, I perform management duties, and when there is a job request, I introduce the job to them and ask, 'Can you do this?' If the talent replies, 'I can do that,' I then inform the agency or the company, acting as an intermediary.

Tracing back, it all started when I was a student, working part-time in music and talent artist event jobs. That led me to join an idol agency when I got a job. While working behind the scenes there, I had the opportunity to interact with pachinko and slot machine companies, which prompted me to switch jobs and join a pachinko and slot machine agency. There, I gained skills and experience, and now I'm freelance.

Well, currently, many talents and celebrities are involved in pachinko and slot machine programs or are invited to stores for visits. Mostly, talents are called to attract customers. By their visit, stores that usually attract, say, 100 customers a day can attract 1,000 or 2,000 customers, filling the store to capacity. Stores call them hoping for that kind of turnout.

The most decisive moment was when a pachinko talent asked me, 'Would you like to try working?' That person was very active in the frontline, so I was honestly hesitant about whether to do it or not, but since I was offered the chance, I decided to give it a try. Initially, I worked behind the scenes, but when I decided to go freelance, I thought I'd try being a talent. I was quite hesitant, but I thought I'd like to try it once. At that time, I was introduced to work and companies by someone active on the frontline, which became the motivation to start.

The most challenging part was the lack of work and the difference between working behind the scenes and on the front. At that time, I didn't have much knowledge, so I wondered what to do. The biggest difference is that what general customers and talents do is quite different. General customers insert money and enjoy themselves, leaving when they're satisfied, but for talents, it becomes a job. They have to go until a certain time and work until a certain time, with clear start and end times. It's not just about playing pachinko or slots but also includes interacting with customers and fans and promoting the store, making the whole day's work quite challenging.

Specifically, once a talent has a job, they go to the pachinko shop in the morning. There's an entry lottery before the shop opens, say 30 minutes before. They go at that time, draw the lottery, receive an entry ticket indicating their entry number, line up, and enter when the shop opens. Then they sit at their preferred machine and play. Sometimes there's a camera, sometimes not. The work of pachinko and slot machine talents is somewhat polarized. There's shooting, which is literally playing while being filmed by a cameraman, and regular visits without a camera, like normal customers. I've done both, but the most challenging part was when the camera was rolling. Especially in the beginning, I didn't know what to talk about, which was quite challenging.

There are various situations, but now, as a support staff for talents, when job requests come almost daily from various agencies and companies asking, 'Can so-and-so do this?' the first challenge is determining if the job suits that talent or if another talent would be better, considering the pay. It's not about accepting every job; I act as a buffer, considering if the job is suitable and if the talent can excel. Then, conveying the job to the talent and negotiating based on their desires or requests, which are often many, with companies or stores, saying, 'Can you do this?' when a talent requests something, that bargaining is the first place where I use my head.

When a job is secured for the talents I manage, that's the greatest joy. Especially the very first job. When it's secured, the talent thinks, 'Finally, a job is secured, yay!' and I think, 'Finally, it's secured, good!' That moment is the best. Seeing the smile of the talents I manage is the happiest moment.

Contrary to the previous question, when jobs are hard to secure, it's very challenging and painful. Also, surprisingly challenging is when there's a job in a remote location, like a remote island, Okinawa, or Hokkaido. And when the transportation is inconvenient, requiring transfers between planes, trains, and buses, it's honestly quite challenging.

Since pachinko and slots are machines, you can't predict when you'll hit a big win. So, when an unexpected big win happens, that's the highlight, bringing joy and surprise. Also, when there's a streak of no wins, and then a sudden big win, with everyone saying, 'Good for you,' and seeing the joy of the people around my talent when they hit a big win, those moments are quite memorable.

Many pachinko and slot machine talents are former professional players, but they end up on the customer side. They analyze, gather data, and try to win on their own, becoming professional players with a high win rate. Such people are called professional players in my understanding. They differ from talents as they don't get jobs but might consider it a job. They're not requested by stores, so there's a difference there.

This is a personal opinion, but I think it's crucial to ask seniors or peers about things you don't understand. Even now, as more people enter this industry every year through agencies or related jobs, no one understands everything from the start. Constantly asking seniors or peers about what you don't know, turning it into your own knowledge and skills, and applying it to future activities is quite necessary in real-time. Information gathering is quite important.

Recruitment is done through media or companies actually looking for talent. It's like idol or talent agencies recruiting. Many people apply, go through document screening and interviews, and get selected. There are companies called pachinko and slot machine production agencies that recruit. Also, related agencies might contact artists or talents via X or Instagram DM, or by phone, asking if they'd like to try pachinko or slot machine work.

It varies by individual, but I think it's decent. If I had to complain, I'd say I want more, to be honest, but it's hard to say. Since I work on the support side, rather than the money, seeing the talent's smile for whom I've worked hard feels like my reward. Emotionally, even after years, that's what I value. Of course, some people work to earn a lot of money, but personally, I think if I can earn a decent amount and see the talent's smile, that's what I want.

I honestly don't know what I'll be doing in five years. It's an unpredictable world, so it's hard to say. That's the honest truth. So, I think I'll work hard now to somehow make this industry thrive. In a sense, it's a job that can change the future, so I'm working hard with a positive attitude. I hope the talents I manage or those I'm affiliated with get plenty of work and lots of smiles.

I'd like to continue if possible, but after doing this job for years, I also want to try something different. So, at this stage, I'm fifty-fifty. There are a lot of constraints regarding time and what I can think about, so there are many things I couldn't do in these years. I also want to see a different side of myself.

My advice is that those who truly love pachinko and slots are the most suited. Rather than seeing it as a job, those who love pachinko and slots and want to somehow make this industry thrive are the most suited, and I hope such people will enter this field.