Pachinko

A Korean term referring simply to a married or middle-aged woman. In Pachinko, the word often refers particularly to the women who sell homemade wares in the open market. Sunja grows up buying goods… read analysis of Ajumma

The term burakumin refers to Japanese people who are viewed as outcasts at the bottom of the traditional social order. Sometimes people are classified as burakumin because of their “defiling” occupations (like being undertakers or… read analysis of Burakumin

The yakuza are members of organized crime syndicates based in Japan—in other words, gangsters. Hansu and Kim Changho are associated with yakuza organizations, and the pachinko industry traditionally has yakuza ties as well, so the… read analysis of Yakuza

Upper -class. Isak, Yoseb, and Kyunghee are of yangban lineage, whereas Sunja comes from a peasant family. In Pachinko, class lineage shapes attitudes about the options available to women—for example, Yoseb thinks… read analysis of Yangban