Smartball, fortuna, Japanese pinball – the game played at this most curious of arcades in Naniwa has many names. Essentially an analogue version of pinball and a predecessor of pachinko, smartball involves using a spring launcher to shoot balls upward and have them roll down into holes scattered along an inclined table. Dedicated entirely to smartball and going strong for more than 50 years, New Star is the only gaming hall of its kind in Osaka (and perhaps in all of Japan).
Once inside – you might need to flash some ID to enter, as smartball is legally considered equivalent to pachinko and off limits for those under 18 – pick any of the roughly 50 tables in the vast room to get going. Inserting a ¥100 coin gets you 25 balls to start with, and each hit on a numbered target gets you a load of additional balls according to the digit above the hole.
Hitting the ‘15’ in the middle opens up an extra ‘15’ target for a limited time, providing for the opportunity to score some serious points. Once satisfied with your haul, bring your balls to the designated counter to exchange them for candy, plush toys or other miscellanea. There are seven types of table among the 50, each with different designs and target locations.
Note that in addition to being closed on Tuesdays, the arcade occasionally shuts its doors for maintenance on Wednesdays.