Thank you for your continued patronage of our stores.
We would like to announce that two of our locations, Black Bird and Magic Bird Tsurumi, will be closing on Monday, August 31st.
First and foremost, we sincerely apologize for the sudden notice and for any great inconvenience this may cause our customers.
Since closing two stores simultaneously is a sudden development, I have written down the details of the circumstances. It is a bit long, but I would appreciate it if you could read through it.
Regarding Black Bird
This store will be merged with its sister location.
The lease for the parking and bicycle lot we had used for about 40 years was denied renewal three years ago. Since then, we have had to ask customers to use nearby coin parking or the parking lot at our sister store, Magic Bird Higashimikuni Main Store. Because we couldn't hold entry lotteries on the roofless street, we had to conduct them at the main store and have customers walk to the shop, causing significant inconvenience.
While we continued operations despite these parking issues, we decided that by merging with the Magic Bird Higashimikuni Main Store—just a 3-minute walk away—and consolidating personnel, equipment, and funds, we could create an even more overwhelming store experience.
Known for its Statue of Liberty sign, this shop operated as a slot specialist for 22 years, and for 45 years if you count its predecessor, "SSS." When considering a future where we can continue to provide better service, I believed this decision was the best course of action and resolved to make this change.
Regarding Magic Bird Tsurumi
We will be withdrawing from this location.
We operated as the Tsurumi store for 15 years, and including the time under the previous corporation, we have been supported by local customers for 30 long years. However, the competitive environment in the surrounding area has changed significantly over the past year.
As it became increasingly difficult to continue the kind of operations we aim for in this location, we felt that continuing to force the business would eventually result in passing the burden onto our customers. To avoid contradicting our most important value—the idea that "pachinko is fun"—we decided to conclude our role in this area and "withdraw" with gratitude to the local community in our hearts.
These are the reasons for closing the two stores.
The fact that both stores were able to operate for so long is entirely thanks to all of you. We would like to express our deepest gratitude for your many years of patronage.
While the journey of these two stores ends here, our company will celebrate its 55th anniversary in September. We will work harder than ever to create exciting and fun stores, so we ask for your continued support.
From all the employees of the Magic Bird Group.
*The following is even longer, so please read it when you have time.
Why this decision now?
Thanks to your support, our company will celebrate its 55th anniversary next month in September.
Being able to continue business for over half a century is a source of pride for us, but it also carries a great responsibility.
What we have valued since our founding is the customer's feeling that "pachinko is fun."
To protect that feeling, we believed it was necessary to proceed with a "selection and concentration" of our business. To improve our management structure and grow into a company even more resilient to environmental changes, the closure of these two stores was unavoidable.
Our store properties are not leased; they are all company-owned. By effectively utilizing the funds generated by these closures, we can protect the "pachinko is fun" experience and prepare a management foundation that offers even greater peace of mind.
As you know, customers are facing a decrease in real disposable income due to rising prices of daily necessities. On the parlor side, operating costs such as labor, electricity, and machine costs are rising. As seen in recent news, the entire industry, including related businesses, is reaching a major turning point like never before.
Looking back, we have responded immediately to rapid changes—removal issues, COVID-19, smart machines, and new banknote compatibility—to the point where all we could do was laugh. If additional issues were to arise, small and medium-sized enterprises like ours would be in an even more difficult environment.
Therefore, we decided to prioritize maintaining an environment where you can enjoy yourselves as before, rather than maintaining the number of stores.
In addition to strengthening our core pachinko business, we will create a structure that allows the company to continue growing through our existing restaurant business, capsule toy business, tenant business, and new businesses currently in development.
Layers of Gratitude
To the customers who supported Black Bird for 45 years and the Tsurumi store for 15 years, thank you very much.
The shy smiles we saw during casual conversations, the slightly sulky faces, the words of encouragement, the harsh opinions, and the kindness of a pat on the shoulder as we passed by—all of these things have made us who we are today.
The phrase "pachinko is fun" that we have cherished actually has another meaning. It means that for us, too, "pachinko is fun."
And the ones who give us that joy and protect it are none other than our customers.
Although we will go from 8 stores to 6, our gratitude toward the customers who supported these two stores will never change.
But above all, it is lonely.
Finally
From September 1st (Tuesday), our "55th Anniversary Month" will begin with our deepest gratitude.
The staff from both stores will join new stages, and by further concentrating investment in people, equipment, and service, we will achieve even more fulfilling store operations.
We will continue to make sincere management decisions one by one to protect our customers' feeling that "pachinko is fun."
We look forward to your continued patronage.
From all the employees of the Magic Bird Group.
*Thank you for taking your valuable time to read to the end.
