If you loved
Pachinko
Min Jin Lee · Book · 2017
What hooked you in Pachinko is the way the grand sweep of history becomes a deeply intimate, multigenerational emotional journey.
Start with the source
Adaptation
Pachinko
Soo Hugh · Series · 2022
Films on the same thread
Minari
Lee Isaac Chung · Film · 2021
Shares a thread with Pachinko: Cultural Identity.
Like Pachinko, this film explores the immigrant experience through the lens of family resilience, grounding the struggle for belonging in the quiet, everyday moments of a domestic life.
Past Lives
Celine Song · Film · 2023
Shares a thread with Pachinko: Cultural Identity.
You will recognize the same ache of displacement found in Pachinko as this story tracks how the passage of time and cultural distance redefine our connections to our origins.
Shoplifters
Hirokazu Kore-eda · Film · 2018
Explores: Chosen Family, Poverty, Child Neglect.
This film mirrors the social realism of Pachinko, focusing on a marginalized family unit that creates its own meaning and survival strategy against the backdrop of an indifferent society.
Series on the same thread
Vincenzo
Series · 2021
Explores: Justice, Revenge, Corruption.
While more stylized, this series captures the same underworld intersections found in Pachinko, specifically the way global power dynamics and criminal organizations force individuals into dangerous, life-altering choices.
Shōgun
Rachel Kondo · Series · 2024
Explores: Power Struggle, Cultural Clash, Survival.
If you were drawn to the historical weight of Pachinko, you will appreciate this immersive look at how individuals navigate rigid societal structures and political upheaval to survive.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Lim Sang-choon · Series · 2025
Shares a thread with Pachinko: Resilience.
This story echoes the sweeping, lifelong character arcs in Pachinko, emphasizing how deep-seated cultural roots and enduring personal connections define a person across the long span of years.
Crash Landing on You
Park Ji-eun · Series · 2019
Explores: Forbidden Love, Culture Clash, Fish Out of Water.
Much like the cross-border tensions in Pachinko, this series highlights the human cost of political division, showing how personal relationships become heroic acts of defiance in hostile environments.
Podcasts on the same thread
Bag Man
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2023
Explores: corruption, political scandal, accountability.
Just as Pachinko exposes the systemic failures facing immigrants, this investigation reveals how corruption functions within institutions, affecting the lives of ordinary people who are often left voiceless.
The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)
Ascension · Podcast · 2026
Explores: faith, spiritual growth, historical context.
Given the role of faith as a source of salvation for the characters in Pachinko, this devotional exploration provides a parallel look at how tradition sustains people through time.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Pachinko based on a book?
Yes, Pachinko is based on the 2017 novel written by Min Jin Lee. The book follows four generations of a Korean family living in Japan across eight decades, beginning in 1911. The 2022 television series is an adaptation of this original source material.
Should I read the book or watch the Pachinko series first?
You can choose either order as both the 2017 novel and the 2022 television adaptation cover the same multi-generational story. The book provides the complete narrative arc of the family starting in 1911, while the series brings the visual journey of Sunja and her descendants to life.
Does the Pachinko book cover the entire family history?
Yes, the 2017 novel Pachinko spans eight decades of history. It tracks the life of Sunja, the daughter of a Korean couple in 1911, and follows her family through four generations of immigrants living in Japan as they face social and personal challenges.
How long is the story told in Pachinko?
The story told in the 2017 novel Pachinko covers eight decades of history. It begins in 1911 in Yeongdo, Korea, and follows the evolution of a single immigrant family through four generations as they navigate life, identity, and survival in Japan.