 The ceremony was presided over by Buddhist monks |
A temple in Tokyo has held a ceremony to celebrate pachinko - Japan's version of pinball - by honouring old machines. The colourful games are a national pastime in Japan, where players pack noisy pachinko parlours throughout the day.
Businessmen who make their livelihoods from the game gathered at Sensoji, Tokyo's oldest temple, to offer prayers to those machines considered too old for further service.
The executives offered incense before entering the temple for the ceremony presided over by Buddhist monks in silk robes.
The monks chanted sutras in front of an altar decorated with a golden replica of a pachinko machine.
Pachinko players buy balls which they shoot into the pachinko machine. The game is then one of chance, but if a ball makes it into certain holes the player wins more balls. While most of Japan has struggled with economic slowdown, pachinko has defied the slump, with profits estimated to be around $240bn per year.
One fan explained why he felt the ceremony was worthwhile.
"I really do believe the machines all have a spirit," said Goma Oyama, "since there are definitely those days when they seem to be in a bad mood."
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We want to tell the machines 'Thank you very much for all your hard work' 
