My neighbor and good friend, Debra, made this wonderful DIY yard art from an old watering can and hanging crystals from an old chandelier. The light from the sun reflects off of the crystals, making it shine brilliantly. Watering Can That Pours Crystals This watering can is the perfect whimsical garden decoration. It would look gorgeous... Go To project

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These rock garden markers are easy to make and look so beautiful in the garden! In fact, for me anyway, painting rocks for the garden is very relaxing! Use your rock garden markers to identify herbs, vegetables, and flowers. Painted Rock Garden Markers I have made several garden crafts over the years, and I’m especially fond... Go To project

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Homemade bath bombs are fun and easy to make! You can add options like dried flowers or herbs, essential oils, and colors to really customize your bath bombs. Why this project is so fun This is a pretty easy project for young kids with some supervision. Spark their imagination by letting them help measure and... Go To project

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Better living through chrome-plated balls.

A lot of negative things have been said about pachinko over the years. The pinball-like game’s parlors are noisy, garish blights on communities that encourage quasi-gambling and rudely told me to go away when I tried to use their free bicycle pump a few times. But they do have their positive points as well. For example, they weren’t nearly the vectors of contagious disease that everyone thought they were.

Now the game is also changing the lives of people with disabilities in assisted care living facilities, thanks to Global Standard, a company based in Gunma Prefecture that specializes in repurposing gaming machines for use as specialized health equipment.

The pachinko market is highly competitive, and it is important for a parlor to have a high turnover of machines, as new machines always draw big crowds. This means that older machines need to be removed to make room for the new ones, even though they’re in perfectly good condition. Global Standard saw this as an opportunity to acquire quality machinery that would otherwise go to waste.

▼ Although I usually hate the aesthetics of pachinko machines, they do kind of brighten up rooms like this.

After acquiring the machines, the company modifies them with patented techniques to encourage voluntary physical activity rather than having staff make them come out of their rooms for exercise. To do this, the machines are controlled by regular rehab equipment, such as a grip strengthener or foot pedal, depending on the player’s physical ability. Usage is also recorded so staff can monitor the residents’ exercise time precisely.

Another aspect of Global Standard’s work that makes this different from a typical donation of gaming equipment is that it’s a circular business model. Because of the pachinko industry’s high machine turnover, it uses an extensive recycling system to reduce costs and waste. Normally, if a machine is donated somewhere, it exits this cycle and would probably be thrown away at the end of its life, but Global Standard also oversees the removal from facilities and ensures the pachinko machines go back into their regular cycle of life.

One such machine was installed in the disability support facility Katsura-so in Gunma Prefecture. As a result, staff reported that residents who rarely left their rooms now come out on their own to play the pachinko machine. They also said that residents are interacting more and seem genuinely happier overall. Not only that, but after a report by NHK, interest in Katsura-so shot up, and other facilities have also expressed interest in similar machines.

Reactions in online comments have been mixed, with some hoping they get similar machines if they ever end up in assisted living conditions and others arguing that pachinko, even with the gambling element removed, could be an addictive game with the potential to create problems rather than solve them.

“That is true recycling. Do slot machines next!”
“That’s a good idea. It’s better than the kids’ games they make those people play.”
“But is pachinko fun without the gambling? Hopefully, they can trade the balls for pudding or something.”
“I hope they disable the annoying sounds those things make.”
“I’d pay money for one of those.”
“Is this a good thing? I’m not sure going from shut-in to pachinko addict is an upgrade.”
“They’ll only get the machines that were flops, like Gundam SEED.”
“They’re just making more pachinko addicts.”

The concern that pachinko is considered an addictive pastime is valid, but the real dopamine kick from playing the game in its natural environment is the ability to win or lose money from it. In other words, pachinko addiction essentially a gambling addiction on par with sports betting or casino games, wherein players constantly chase the dragon of expecting that next play to be the big one they’ve been waiting for.

Because of that, in an effort to capitalize on this addiction, the makers of these machines also go all out in trying to design them to be as attention-getting as possible with dazzling visuals and popular IPs. They are also designed to be as comfortable to play as possible, so gamblers don’t experience fatigue and can stay at the machines longer to feed them money.

▼ The machines do everything they can to take your mind off the repetitive action of a grip strengthener.

All of these shady tactics to drain real-world pachinko players of their money coincidentally work in the favor of Global Standard and care facilities. It makes the games highly appealing, comfortable, and engaging, but by removing the monetary aspect, it stops short of being a clinical gambling disorder and resides more on the level of something like Candy Crush in terms of addictiveness.

That might still not sound ideal when it comes to caring for people with disabilities, but I know if my time ever comes to enter such a facility, I’d want the one with real games rather than pat-a-cake, even if it is, ugh, pachinko.

Source: MyNavi News, PR Times (1, 2, 3), Hachima Kiko
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: PR Times (1, 2)
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See how to make an adorable knitted coffee cozy to keep your drinks snug and warm. Because coffee cups need hugs too, right? Pair your coffee cozy up with a coffee mug and a DIY Mother’s Day card that you can print off from home and you have a great gift for mom! How to Knit... Go To project

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Unless you live in Buffalo.

Who doesn’t want to be taken out to the ball game, and be bought so many peanuts and Cracker Jacks they may never want to go back? Not only is it a great way to get some fresh air, buy a 20-dollar hotdog, and learn some creative obscenities, but a recent study also suggests that watching sports either live or on TV can significantly reduce your risk of depression in your later years.

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found a roughly 30-percent lower risk of depression among seniors who watch sports regularly, compared to those who do not. The key factor of being into sports is the tendency to gather with other like-minded people, be it in a stadium or a nursing home, and interact with others through shared emotions and excitement.

They analyzed data from over 21,000 elderly people and measured their depressive symptoms. They found that those who attended live sporting events a few times a year were 30 percent less likely to develop symptoms of depression, and those who went out to games a few times a month fared even better, with a risk of depression lower by 34 percent compared to those who never watch sports. Even watching on TV or the Internet had positive results, but required more frequent viewing with weekly games or more resulting in a 29 percent lower risk of developing symptoms of depression.

A major catalyst for mental decline among the elderly is said to be social isolation, and watching sports is an excellent remedy for this in three ways. Sports are a great way to break down barriers between people, cheering along with or high-fiving strangers wearing the same team colors. It’s also a great way for seniors to stay active by getting dressed and going to the stadium. And finally, it can be an outstandingly cathartic way to release your emotions as you shout, “I got cataracts, and even I can see that was offside!” at the referees.

Ibaraki Prefecture has decided to put this research into practice and started partnering with professional soccer and basketball teams in an effort to promote well-being among seniors. One way this is being done is at a nursing home in the city of Namaegata, where every week, residents and staff gather in front of the television and watch J1 League soccer matches.

One 71-year-old fan there said soccer was her favorite, and watching any sport makes her happy. Another 93-year-old resident says watching matches with everyone is something she looks forward to every week. Staff members also reported that some residents have been sleeping better and that it’s great seeing them having something to look forward to.

So if you or anyone you know is getting up there in years and feels increasingly withdrawn from society, this might be the perfect time to get a ticket to the next baseball, rugby, or bread-in-mouth footrace match and see where it leads from there.

Source: The Sankei Shimbun, National Library of Medicine
Photos ©SoraNews24
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These colorful little ladybug painted rocks are the sweetest addition to your garden bed, but they can also be nestled inside house plants or used as paperweights! All you’ll need are some smooth rocks, outdoor paint, and sealer. Why we love this project Aren’t these ladybug painted rocks the sweetest? Each of the ladybugs has... Go To project

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Learn how to start a fairy garden of your own! Our fairy garden is made from a simple inexpensive wooden birdhouse and natural materials. Starting a Fairy Garden In April of 2015 I moved into a studio space. In May I planted a ton of flowers in the planter boxes under my windows. However, the... Go To project

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With pretty pastel colors and a natural grapevine wreath, this simple DIY Easter egg wreath idea is the perfect way to welcome spring. Use any leftover plastic eggs with our printable Easter Scavenger Hunt! Easter Egg Wreath Tutorial A pretty Easter egg wreath is the sweetest adornment for your front door. Easter is absolutely one... Go To project

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A new model of urban community collaboration in Shinjuku’s Kabukicho area connects the generations using mint as a bridge.

Senior citizens probably aren’t the first demographic that comes to mind when you think of Shinjuku’s Kabukicho neighborhood, which is much more commonly associated with younger crowds, nightlife, and bars. Yet, the area is home to a sizeable population of older folks who depend on facilities such as Shinjuku Day Service for lifestyle support and social activities.

“Day service” is a Japanese term that describes a place akin to a senior center where outpatient services are offered to senior citizens who are still capable of living independently but could use help with certain tasks or socialization activities. Shinjuku Day Service has recently partnered with Smappa! Group, which operates a large number of restaurants, bars, host clubs, and other entertainment facilities throughout Shinjuku, to bring a refreshingly new partnership to Kabukicho tables called the Shinjuku Day Service Mojito.

This initiative, which is one of the first of its kind in a major metropolitan area, connects farms, day service facilities, and restaurants/bars together in a community chain of compassion. Senior citizen volunteers grow mint plants organically using seedlings provided by Pipichan Farm in Ome, Tokyo Prefecture, which are then harvested and distributed to several Kabukicho restaurants, bars, and host clubs. Each of these participating locations has designed its own unique cocktail using the mint and is committed to sharing the story of its cultivation with customers.

The beauty of Shinjuku Day Service Mojito is that it creates a sense of purpose for many of the seniors so that they can feel their impact not only within their own community but in the larger Kabukicho community as well. Project organizers have commented that cultivating plants also has important physical and mental benefits for the seniors such as keeping their senses and cognitive abilities sharp. Best of all, involvement in the project is completely voluntary, participants can grow the herbs at their own pace, and they can be involved in other parts of the distribution process if they so choose.

▼ It’s fitting that mint means “virtue” or “warmth of emotions” in Japan’s language of flowers (hanakotoba).

If you’d like to support seniors by purchasing one or more of the collaborative mint cocktails, please see the list of participating businesses below. We think this is an excellent way for seniors to stay active and connected to the community–tied right up there with having their own line of collective trading cards.

Participating restaurants and bars (all located within Kabukicho)
● 人間レストラン (Ningen Restaurant)
● 麦ノ音 (Mugi no Oto)
● MISO SOUP
● BRIAN BAR
● red.
● 世阿弥 (Zeami)
● ありんす (Arinsu)
● デカメロン ギャルバー (Decameron Gyaru Bar)
● PEGASUS
● BAR CACCO
● クラブ春 (Club Haru)

Participating host clubs (all located within Kabukicho)
● APiTS
● AWAKE
● CURE
● SMAPPA! HANS AXEL VON FERSEN
● OPUST

Source, images: PR Times
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Turn old bottle caps into a rustic bottle cap flower to display in potted plants or right in your garden. Safe to leave outside too! Bottle Cap Flower Craft This bottle cap flower project was born from one of my craft books, Button Mania: Buttons, Bottlecaps and Beyond!, which is available now on Amazon! I save bottle caps,... Go To project

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