In Japan, sales of Takarakuji lottery tickets issued by prefectural governments and ordinance-designated major cities totaled ¥786.6 billion (US$7.1 billion) in fiscal 2017, down 6.9 percent from the year before.
Sales were down for the second consecutive year and fell below ¥800 billion for the first time since fiscal 1997, according to data compiled by the internal affairs ministry.
Takarakuji sales have been on a downward trend after peaking at ¥1.105 trillion (US$10 billion) in fiscal 2005.
In fiscal 2017, sales of Jumbo Takarakuji, including Dream, Summer and Nenmatsu (Yearend), decreased 13.1 percent to ¥325.6 billion.
Meanwhile, sales of number-selection lotteries, including the newly launched Bingo 5, rose 2.6 percent to ¥379.9 billion, the first increase in four years. The growth came partly because Loto 6 sales increased 6.5 percent thanks to a boost in the top prize money to ¥200 million from ¥100 million.
Profits from Takarakuji sales, which are a crucial financial resource for local and prefectural governments, have fallen to as low as ¥299.6 billion in fiscal 2017, compared with ¥439.8 billion in fiscal 2005.
To boost sales, mainly to young people, the ministry will allow Jumbo lottery sales on the official website for Takarakuji and credit card payments from October, sources familiar with the matter said. Currently, only number-selection lotteries are available on the Internet.
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They have had enough. Enough of losing!
I remember around when oil prices were rising someone was telling me to forget about oil and focus on the yen. I never paid it much mind, some people focus on long term. I admire Japan’s history, but I understand too little about it outside of Tokugawa Ieyasu and perhaps Jimmu as well.
General Douglas MacArthur had it right when he restructured Japan. Just look at all the fruits that developed after WW2.
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To Japan:
I have always admired the country and peoples of Japan. Your people have accomplished
so much (like all the import cars and motorcycles, plus, let's not forget Godzilla). I hope you will continue to prosper, and hope that any lulls in your Teriyaki lotto, or whatever you call it, will also continue to do well.
Mr. Groppo
A book about Japanese marketing came out iin the mid 1980s. On the cover of the book was a Japanese soldier in a WW II uniform with his hand on a TV set.....
The title of the book was;
From those friendly folks who brought you Pearl Harbor
One of the things mentioned in the book was the first Honda motorcycles that were sent to the U.S.
At the time there was no US market for 250cc and 300cc motorcycles....so the Japanese simply created one. Remember the Honda 305 Dream?
Must admit I was prejudiced...which means pre judging. I never associated Japan having a lottery.
Now I'm going to see if the Chinese have a lottery, that I'm sure they do.
Maybe it’s not way too easy to win lotteries there like it is in New York or California.
I remember in the 60's when the little Honda 50 was the rage. A lot of my brother's friends had one.
rcbbuckeye,
There was an interview with Sonny Barger (Head of Sam Berdoo HA) where he said,
"When you hear you meet the nicest people on a Honda we ain't the ones they're talking about!"
(Old Honda commercial)
Probably has something to do with their rapidly aging, and soon to be declining population. It's going to be increasingly difficult for them to grow sales while the population is shrinking.
Some of the biggest action in Vegas takes place in private games for wealthy Japanese players on the upper floors of the hotels.
They ask for certain dealers and those dealers know they are in for a good night $$$$.