Umi Monogatari (海物語, “Sea Story”) is a long-running pachinko series from the maker Sanyo (三洋物産), with a sea theme in its name and on its screens. It doesn’t come from an anime, but Sea Story machines appear in large numbers in Japanese halls, and they’re a common first recommendation for beginners.
A 25-year series
Sanyo marked the series’ 25th anniversary with P Big Sea Story 5 Special, first in halls on 5 November 2024 (Sanyo press release, 23 Aug 2024). Several “Sea Story” lines exist side by side:
| Machine | In halls from | PachiPass page |
|---|---|---|
| P Big Sea Story 5 (P大海物語5) | 6 Feb 2023 (P-World) | P Big Sea Story 5 |
| P Big Sea Story 5 Special (P大海物語5スペシャル) | 5 Nov 2024 (Sanyo) | P Big Sea Story 5 Special |
| P Super Sea Story IN Okinawa 6 (Pスーパー海物語IN沖縄6) | 6 Oct 2025 (P-World) | Coming |
| Big Sea Story 5 Special 2027 EDITION (smart “319 yu-time ver.” and P “red cell ver.”) | First in halls 7 Dec 2026 (Sanyo press release, 28 Aug 2026) | Coming |
How popular is it? In 2023 machine sales, P Big Sea Story 5 sold about 37,500 units and a version featuring the singer Agnes Lam about 39,000, per Pachinko Village data reported by Greenbelt (P-World news). When we checked on 4 October 2026, many Sea Story machines were in P-World’s nationwide pachinko installation ranking (P-World); we don’t reproduce rank numbers.
The maker-published spec: P Big Sea Story 5 Special
We publish specs only when the maker does. Sanyo’s press release gives these for P Big Sea Story 5 Special (Sanyo):
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Jackpot odds, normal mode | 1/319.6 |
| Jackpot odds, higher-probability mode | 1/31.9 |
| Share of jackpots leading to the higher-probability mode (kakuhen) | 54% (until the next jackpot) |
| Rounds | 10 rounds × 10 balls |
| Time-saving mode (jitan) | 100 or 200 spins |
| Yu-time | 350 jitan spins after 950 spins in normal mode without a jackpot |
| “BIG Assist” | 200 jitan spins after a normal jackpot won during jitan |
The release also describes a smart pachinko (“e”) version with odds of 1/348.5, 64% kakuhen and 1,500 balls on every jackpot. Sanyo says the 2027 EDITION keeps the same specs. If these words are new, our guides on kakuhen, ST and jitan and machine types and specs explain them.
Why beginners are pointed to it
- Simple to follow. DMM Pachitown’s English beginner guide recommends the Sea Story series as simple and easy to understand, and uses Big Sea Story 5 Special as its worked example. It notes, for instance, that on that machine a purple sea means kakuhen and a green sea means jitan (DMM).
- Rates. If a hall has a 1-yen section, that’s the cheaper way to try it. See 1-yen vs 4-yen pachinko.
- Easy to ask for. Say or show 海物語 (umi monogatari) to staff.
More: best machines for beginners · how to play pachinko · machine database.
Quick answers
What is Umi Monogatari?
Umi Monogatari (海物語, 'Sea Story') is Sanyo's long-running pachinko series with a sea theme. Sanyo marked the series' 25th anniversary with P Big Sea Story 5 Special in 2024.
Is Sea Story good for beginners?
It's often recommended as a first machine. DMM Pachitown's English beginner guide, for example, recommends the Sea Story series as 'simple and easy to understand'. It's still a game of chance with no skill that changes the outcome.
What are the odds on P Big Sea Story 5 Special?
Sanyo's press release gives jackpot odds of 1/319.6 in normal mode and 1/31.9 in the higher-probability mode, with 54% of jackpots leading to the higher-probability mode. Odds can differ between versions, so always check the cabinet.
Sources
- Sanyo – press release, 23 Aug 2024: P Big Sea Story 5 Special (specs; first in halls 5 Nov 2024; series 25th anniversary) (PDF, Japanese)
- Sanyo – press release, 28 Aug 2026: Big Sea Story 5 Special 2027 EDITION (first in halls 7 Dec 2026) (PDF, Japanese)
- P-World – P大海物語5 (Sanyo; from 6 Feb 2023)
- P-World – Pスーパー海物語IN沖縄6 (Sanyo; from 6 Oct 2025)
- P-World news (Greenbelt) – 2023 machine sales, from Pachinko Village data
- DMM Pachitown – Pachinko beginner's guide (English; recommends Sea Story)
- P-World – nationwide pachinko installation ranking (checked 4 Oct 2026)
Facts on this page were last checked against these sources on 4 October 2026. Rules, prices and venues change, so always follow the signs and staff at the venue.
