Slap-the-Japs

The 'Slap-the-Japs' pinball machine was produced during World War II, representing a difficult period of wartime propaganda and anti-Japanese sentiment in American entertainment. While specific manufacturer details are unclear, the machine likely emerged from a smaller regional producer during the height of WWII patriotic fervor.

The machine would have featured basic electro-mechanical components typical of the early 1940s era, including mechanical scoring, simple bumpers, and basic sound effects powered by bells and chimes. The theme and artwork almost certainly incorporated wartime propaganda imagery common to that period, though this would be considered highly offensive by modern standards.

This type of pinball machine represents a challenging historical artifact that documents how amusement devices were used to promote wartime messaging. Its existence serves as a reminder of how racial prejudice and wartime propaganda were normalized in everyday entertainment. Production numbers are unknown, and very few, if any, examples are likely to have survived to the present day.