That's because gambling for cash is illegal in Japan, you buy balls, and win balls, exchange those balls for tokens. Then across the street, you can exchange th

That's because gambling for cash is illegal in Japan, you buy balls, and win balls, exchange those balls for tokens. Then across the street, you can exchange those tokens for prizes / cash, thereby circumventing the law. It has nothing to do with saving face, it's a loophole to allow for gambling.