Conclusion

Lee's Pachinko greatly exposed us to many topics unknown or not often mentioned in Western culture or literature. Many of us are unfamiliar with Asian history and culture, such as the topics we delved into: Communism in Korea, the LGBTQ+ experience in Korea and Japan, and Pachinko Parlors and the Yakuza. Overall, these topics reveal the complex social, cultural, and historical contexts that shape the experiences of marginalized groups in Korea and Japan and the role of organized crime in Japanese society.

Although set in East Asia, Pachinko resonates with many individuals in and out of East Asia, connecting with its audience through its stories of immigration, family, society/culture, and struggles/hardship. With our exploration for this project, we helped connect the stories in Pachinko to a larger context that we would otherwise not know much about. We hope you learned a little more from our project and gained something from this :)