I’ve never been to Japan and I know only a bit about Japanese culture. Today, though, I was struck with interest when a friend forwarded to me an article about Japan’s vending machines.
Apparently, Japanese vending machines aren’t much like American machines; not only do they dispense soft drinks and snacks, they also sell frozen meat, liquor, live lobsters, disposable cameras and lingerie. There’s also rumor that these product dispensers once sold
used panties. Whether or not this is true I'm still unsure, though something must have happened for it to become outlawed in 1993.
According to
one article, there are so many vending machines in Japan that the country is estimated to have about one per 23 people. There are even robot machines (like the one above) that walk around the cities!
What do you think about Japan’s vending machines? Have you ever been to Japan and bought something besides a snack or drink from one of them? What about the used panty rumor?
Comments (60)
Whoa!! That's crazy!! Japan has a lot of crazy vending machines! XDDD I think Japanese vending machines are awesome. I've never been to Japan before. T_T
Interesting!!!
haha yep when i went to japan a couple years ago, my cousin and i were most excited about 1) the vending machines, and 2) the ramen stands
The vending machines in Japan are awesome.
Awesome! another reason for me to visit Japan! ~
I miss the vending machines in Japan... when I came to America, I was pretty shocked at how little they have here :/ But haha, it's funny. I was thinking that America's vending machines were so cool and different!
I'm kind of skeptical about the used panties rumor. I lived in Japan for 5 years in several areas and I've never seen anything like that. They do have A LOT of great things there though! I love the noodle houses, and their bakeries and pastry shops are out of this world! I especially love the meat pastries. I wish someone from there would come over here and start up a chain of shops like that here in the states; I bet they'd really be successful! I also think we need more traditional Japanese restaurants here as well instead of the teppan-yaki "cook-in-front-of-you show" type restaurants and sushi bars that are so common. If Americans love sushi, then I'm sure they'd love some of the more traditional meals that aren't even offered in these types of restaurants. I figure if you can eat raw fish, you can eat about anything!
You know how we have dried bananas, apricots, cranberries, etc. over here? Over there you can buy snacks like dried sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, and such; much more healthy than a lot of the chips we have here. You have me missing it all now, LOL!
Oh, and what about their ATM machines? When I was there in '79 - '80 you could get not only bills or paper currency in different denominations, but different coins as well. Here, you're lucky if you can get our ATMs to shell out more than $20 bills. You'd think we would have caught up with that technology by now!
Oh Japan....you never cease to amaze me.
The machines so cute ....
I read that they have beer vending machines too.
Wow! Call me old-fashioned, but I think I'd rather go to the store to buy my lingerie. XD
i love japanese vendingmachines. i used to buy sodas like every few blocks when i was out walking. it was great.
thats so awesome!
I dont like the lobster one though, it seems mean =[
I like the look of these machines, no I have never been to Japan.
The vending machines are everywhere in Japan. They are handy. I tried a few times and they worked well.
Awesome...they really do think of everything!! It's my dream to take a cruise to Japan but I may have to move there for a year to take in everything I wanna see!
I bet their machines took credit cards long before the ones here in America. the only place I've seen them tho are at my old college campus. It was a life saver because I would have money but no change because I use my debit card so much.
I wonder how much the lobster machine costs, seriously. I bet it's cheaper anywhere in the world to buy & make your won lobster. They're almost $30 in restaurants!! Usually when I go out & I want lobster, I get a combo that has shrimp & lobster because it's cheaper sometimes. Or even to get the tail alone is expensive but still cheaper than the whole lobster.
Funny. Because they're a relatively healthy culture and vending machines are often associated with junk food.
I once went to an indoor playground at Wisconsin Dells that had a vending machine for socks. >.>
I haven't been to Japan yet but I've heard that they has all kind of odd vending machines. Haha. Some are actually a good idea, but others are just strange.
The Robot Vanding Machine is a bit freaky.
Appearently the Panty Vending Machine is true.
http://www.snopes.com/risque/kinky/panties.asp
looks cool
i TOTALLY miss the vending machines in japan!! my favorite ones were the ones that sold hot drinks. ESPECIALLY in the winter time when i was stuck waiting for the bus or train!! =]
It makes a lot of sense and just shows what lateral thinking will produce! There used to be guys selling bread door-to-door in America. And who knew Bo-Tox would be sold at house parties.
I knew of vending machines like this though have not yet been able to see one for myself D:
I LOVE the vending machines! I loved buying water and tea from them when I was in japan. The coolest thing I ever saw with a vending machine was a homeless man buying cola ^^ haha