Your post is great! its like having somebody down on the ground who is playing these for real. I know we all play for real in our own way at home, but you are paying yen for medals and then changing these up into prizes (its the real deal). Having an 'insider' is quite a good way of putting it.
God, i really hope that somebody in the UK could create a pachi parlour, or maybe a sushi restaurant that has some pachis in there with prizes to be won. Your english is far better than my japanese which is, not existant. Would be willing to learn though!.