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BALL CUPPING

Japan Flag   Can't Save the Ball   

Green tick  Catch the ball in the pan
Red X  Miss the ball
Skull icon  Fate decides when and where the ball will drop

To start the game, the contestant has to hit a ball into the top of a giant pachinko machine. As soon as they've hit the ball they must pick up a pan and run down a flight of stairs to the side of the machine.
Now the contestant has to wait on a narrow pathway at the bottom, between the machine and a mud pit, for the ball to fall out. The aim is to catch the ball in their pan. As they can't see where the ball is getting knocked around too, the General shouts out directions ("left" or "right") to help guide the contestant.
The ball will drop out over the mud pit. The contestant must dive for it, and catch the ball safely in their pan to win the game.

Played   10  times;  in episodes:
100, 102, 104, 110, 113-116, 125, 131

 BGM:  "Persuit of Leona" - Dominion

After the first appearance, a small clear lip was added to the bottom of the machine, so contestants get a glimpse of the ball just before it falls.
In the Family special version of the game; the children hit the ball into the machine and stay up the top to shout directions, while the parents run down the stairs to try and catch the ball.