The Closest I Came To A Gambling Addiction

When you come to Japan, go to Akihabara. There you will find claw machine games. In particular, one's that have anime figures for prizes.

If you know Australia, it's one of the biggest gambling capitals of the world.

I was with my Chinese-Malaysian friend I met from my trip to go try the claw machines. Back in 2019, we went to the same arcade and I won three prizes about the first try.

This was his first time in Japan, and I suggest such venture. Weeks before I didn't want to play as I didn't have sufficient space. At this point with another suitcase, it's free game.

Good reader, you might say that these games are 'rigged'. Yes, I'd like for the claws to have more strength than what they have. But, there's actual strategy to the games.

Where the prize sat was on a shelf with a green looped tag.

(Refer to the photo at the top of the article)

This is where you had to try and get the claw through it pulling it off the edge.

What kept happening was the prize would move left to right in conjunction with the centre of gravity.

That was the strategy I devised after losing 3000 yen ($32 AUD)...

Go left, go right, go left, go right. I needed to shift the weight so the prize can eventually tip and fall.

"I'm feeling good about this one."

I kept saying to myself. As I slotted the next batch of 100 yen coins.

Most of my attempts kept on getting wasted. Not coordinating the claw correctly and missing the green loop.

Profanity and cursing followed with each missed attempt.

Bloody hell, I sounded like a gambling addict. Eventually, when I did get it, an immediate dopamine rushed filled. I was jumping in the air. On my tippy toes delighted by this victory.

Spectators commentated and congratulate me as I finally won.

(To the intrigue of an Asian speaking perfect English wearing a business shirt obsessive about winning an anime waifu prize)

I actually added too many coins giving me 3 more tries. The gaming attendant gave us the choice to transfer those turns to any of the other machines and their respective prizes.

What I chose the game beside the same anime waifu figure (refer to photo). It was the same character, different pose and size.

I executed the same strategy as the first game. What I found was it did the same thing. Swaying from side to side.

I was all out of turns.

I turned to my friend saying,

"I think I can get this one, as well."

At this point, I had 7000 yen used for the previous game. He said in his Malaysian accent,

"No. I'm serious. Don't do it."

It's funny that someone became my voice of reason when it's usually the other way around. My body wanted to try again. But I said to him,

"You gotta learn, when you hit the jackpot when to walk away."

What I learnt from this experience is to not give a shit.

Yeah, I felt self-conscious for a bit that people were witnessing me trying to get an anime waifu doll.

If you become focussed, like you block the outside world around you while doing one activity, you don't care. The goal of the game is not for the approval of others. It's to win that damn prize.

Also, it's a lesson in polarisation. The reason I felt conscious because I didn't want women who walked past me to cloud judgement upon me. Then I was like,

"Fuck it. I probably don't want them either."

But yeah, gambling... I kept justifying to my Malaysian friend that as an Aussie, I don't gamble on home soil. And doing the claw game was my version of fun.

(I won't do it again)

BONUS: Why This Prize?

The prize I chose was intentional. The figure was Marin from 'My Dress Up Darling'. My friend thought I chose it randomly, and it's only requirement was it looked cute.

I have a soft spot for slice of life and romance anime.