Based on Min Jin Lee's bestselling novel, Pachinko is a sweeping saga that chronicles the hopes and dreams of a Korean immigrant family across four generations as they leave their homeland to forge a new path in Japan. Produced in three languages — Korean, Japanese, and English — the series was notably unable to film in Japan due to COVID-19 restrictions, requiring the production to ingeniously convert Korean backlots and architecture to stand in for Japanese settings.
Pachinko
Show Details
Soo Hugh
Soo Hugh
Apple TV+
2
16
48–68 minutes
Drama Historical Family Saga
Busan, South Korea, Andong, South Korea, Mokpo, South Korea, Mungyeong, South Korea, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Steveston, British Columbia, Canada
Resources // 16 sources
Exterior Lighting
Making of Pachinko: How Showrunner Soo Hugh Adapted the Novel
Building the World of Pachinko in K-Drama Backlots and Enemy Architecture
DP Florian Hoffmeister on Shooting Kogonada's Half of Pachinko
Pachinko DP Florian Hoffmeister On Blurring Barriers Through Imagery
Why Pachinko Cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister Didn't Distinguish the Dual Timelines
Pachinko DP Florian Hoffmeister on Working With Kogonada
Pachinko Cinematography with Florian Hoffmeister BSC
How Ante Cheng Brought an Indie Spirit to the Emmy-Nominated Cinematography of Pachinko
How Different Directors Create Different Looks: Pachinko
Directors Justin Chon and Kogonada on Dividing Directing Duties on Pachinko
Pachinko Directors Justin Chon and Kogonada On Uniting Their Styles
Nico Muhly Gets Intimate In Scoring Pachinko
Interview: Pachinko Music Composer Nico Muhly
Pachinko Season 2: Soo Hugh on Nico Muhly Score and the Rose Song
Pachinko VFX Concept Art
Seasons & Episodes
Season 1
Chapter One
In 1915 Korea, young Sunja is born into a family of modest means in a small fishing village. Decades later in 1989 Osaka, her grandson Solomon returns from New York with ambitious plans.
Chapter Two
Young Sunja's world expands as she encounters new people and ideas that will shape her future.
Chapter Three
Sunja faces a life-altering decision as the consequences of a forbidden relationship become clear.
Chapter Four
Sunja begins a new chapter in Japan, navigating an unfamiliar world while Solomon pursues a complex business deal in 1989.
Chapter Five
The family struggles to survive in wartime Japan as discrimination and hardship test their resilience.
Chapter Six
Sunja makes a difficult sacrifice for her family's survival while Solomon's deal encounters unexpected complications.
Chapter Seven
A pivotal episode spanning both timelines as the family confronts loss, identity, and the cost of perseverance. Named one of the best TV episodes of 2022 by The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and Collider.
Chapter Eight
In the season finale, past and present collide as Sunja's sacrifices echo across generations and Solomon faces the truth about his family's history.
Season 2
Chapter Nine
The saga continues as the family navigates post-war Japan while Solomon faces new challenges in the modern era.
Chapter Ten
New alliances form as the family's past continues to shape their present circumstances.
Chapter Eleven
As new relationships blossom, Sunja's journey takes an unexpected turn.
Chapter Twelve
A tragedy threatens to destroy everything the family has built. Sunja meets a close friend of Solomon's.
Chapter Thirteen
The family's fight for survival begins anew as WWII reaches the home front. A surprise figure thwarts Solomon's plans.
Chapter Fourteen
Five years after the war has ended, Hansu is at the top of the criminal underworld, but his riches come at a great price.
Chapter Fifteen
Mr. Kim faces a difficult choice between the woman he loves and his homeland. Both Solomon and Mozasu execute ruthless plans.
Chapter Sixteen
In the series finale, Noa uncovers a devastating truth. Solomon learns of an old enemy's fate. Sunja must decide between her past and her future.