Roller coasters and merry-go-rounds at amusement parks offer people an opportunity to spice up their lives with a few thrills and spills.
But there is nothing thrilling about the harsh economic realities that have blighted these recreational facilities in recent years.
Falls in visitor numbers have forced many amusement and theme parks in the Tokyo area to close, while those that have survived have been forced to improvise in order to lure consumers away from other forms of entertainment.