CHIBA, Apr 22, 2025 (News On Japan) - A man was caught on camera violently damaging a pachinko machine decorated with the face of Evangelion Unit-01, an iconic character from the popular anime series, at a pachinko parlor in Ichikawa City, Chiba Prefecture on April 8th.
The machine, which features large-scale visual effects designed to appeal to fans of the franchise, had its decorative Unit-01 head visibly jolted and left with its mouth stuck half open after the incident. Surveillance footage showed the man shaking the figure up and down repeatedly in what the store has described as a sudden and rule-breaking "rampage mode."
The area manager of the pachinko parlor said, "We don't know how much money he spent, but maybe he got frustrated after losing and started acting out like that."
What appeared to be a prank escalated as the same man returned multiple times to damage the machine further. According to staff, he was not a regular customer, had not used a membership card, and remains unidentified.
When staff later inspected the machine the man had used, it was making rattling noises, and the Unit-01 face attachment was trembling and partially ajar. The store reported that repair costs are expected to exceed 70,000 yen, and the machine will remain out of service until the repairs are completed, affecting daily operations.
The pachinko parlor is now considering filing a damage report with local authorities.
Source: FNN
