A blister packaging machine provided with a pocket portion forming unit configured to form a pocket portion that includes a bottom portion and a side portion, in a conveyed belt-like container film, wherein the pocket portion forming unit is configured to adjust balance between thickness of the bottom portion and thickness of the side portion, the blister packaging machine comprising: an illumination unit placed downstream of the pocket portion forming unit and configured to irradiate at least the pocket portion with predetermined electromagnetic radiation; an imaging unit placed on a side opposite to the illumination unit across the container film and configured to obtain at least transmitted image data based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the pocket portion; a side portion state detecting unit configured to detect a state with regard to the thickness of the side portion indirectly from the state with regard to the thickness of the bottom portion, based on the transmitted image data obtained by the imaging unit; and a controller configured to control operation of the pocket portion forming unit by setting an intermediate stop position of the pocket portion so as to control the thickness of the bottom portion, based on a result of detection by the side portion state detecting unit. wherein the pocket portion forming unit is configured to adjust balance between thickness of the bottom portion and thickness of the side portion, the blister packaging machine comprising: an illumination unit placed downstream of the pocket portion forming unit and configured to irradiate at least the pocket portion with predetermined electromagnetic radiation; an imaging unit placed on a side opposite to the illumination unit across the container film and configured to obtain at least transmitted image data based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the pocket portion; a side portion state detecting unit configured to detect a state with regard to the thickness of the side portion indirectly from the state with regard to the thickness of the bottom portion, based on the transmitted image data obtained by the imaging unit; and a controller configured to control operation of the pocket portion forming unit by setting an intermediate stop position of the pocket portion so as to control the thickness of the bottom portion, based on a result of detection by the side portion state detecting unit. an illumination unit placed downstream of the pocket portion forming unit and configured to irradiate at least the pocket portion with predetermined electromagnetic radiation; an imaging unit placed on a side opposite to the illumination unit across the container film and configured to obtain at least transmitted image data based on the electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the pocket portion; a side portion state detecting unit configured to detect a state with regard to the thickness of the side portion indirectly from the state with regard to the thickness of the bottom portion, based on the transmitted image data obtained by the imaging unit; and a controller configured to control operation of the pocket portion forming unit by setting an intermediate stop position of the pocket portion so as to control the thickness of the bottom portion, based on a result of detection by the side portion state detecting unit.