Great post, Jeffrey! I’ve always wanted to know more about these vending machines I keep seeing in anime and Japanese video games like Persona 5. They seem so fun! What hqve been some of your favourite offerings?
Thank you, Andrei. It's good to have you here as a reader. When it comes to vending machines here, I stick quite conservatively to water or coffee. Boss black coffee is my favourite for the latter.
One of the uncanny things about living in Japan is that the ubiquitous vending machines - those glowing totems of convenience on every corner - promptly vanish the moment you really need one. Walk a Tokyo backstreet on a summer night, parched and hopeful, and you’ll find they’ve somehow all evaporated into the shadows. The same machines that seemed to multiply like urban mushrooms an hour ago, offering cold coffee, hot corn soup, and Pocari Sweat, are nowhere in sight. It’s as if they possess a sixth sense for irony, retreating just when your body aches for hydration or caffeine.
That is so true! A few weeks ago I was walking in the summer heat and thoughtlessly didn’t wear a hat or bring any water with me. I was desperate for a vending machine but absolutely none were in the vicinity. After a hour of trudging along I finally found an old fashioned drinking fountain to slake my thirst. These used to be extremely common but gradually disappeared as capitalistic trends prevailed - instead of free water we now have to pay ¥100+. Or maybe it was because drunkards made them so unsanitary? I particularly enjoy the vending machines at the highway rest stops which play music and show you a video of your coffee being prepared. Japan can be so charming!
I’m involved in the Save Jingu Gaien movement. Through that I’ve learned that the government in collaboration with Itochu and Mitsui Fudosan are making all the parks monetized. Hibiya Park has been destroyed so money making events can occur in spaces that were formerly free for the public to enjoy. The famous fountain has even been ripped out. It’s a tragedy which most people aren’t aware of.
'School's out for summer' and I am at last able to catch up with yours, and others, posts! What an extraordinary beginning you give me Jeffrey!
I have a pathological hatred for vending machines! In my experience the item I want is either unavailable due the digital ghost in the machine telling me what I want is sold out despite that I see it before my very eyes, or, as it falls it is trapped between metal and glass front that no end of banging the side will release!
And yet you write about hundreds of them, eloquently. And they all work perfectly! If I am ever enticed to try again (it has been many years) I will be checking country of manufacture first!
Thanks for this writing and the photos, Jeffrey! I assume from your piece that Japanese vending machines actually work and you don’t have to bang on them to get your stale snack?
Great post Jeffrey. Just catching up after our trip to Japan (where I picked up a bad chest infection, fully recovered now) and a long weekend with Rosy and my brother in a very hot Rome. I love the way your posts are creating a word mosaic of Streeter life. One day perhaps we’ll be able to decide on our own version of your chronology. When I first visited Japan in the mid-eighties I was surprised to find that the local vending machine near my hotel sold—in addition to soft drinks, coffee, tea and sweets—a wide assortment of pornographic magazines.
I’ve lived in Japan since 1980 and I remember being shocked by those. But men also used to unashamedly read pornographic newspapers on the trains. Vending machines selling beer and sake also used to be very common.
Thank you, John. I saw Rome is affected by the current heatwave. I hope it's bearable. Pretty warm here too. Yes, beverages aren't the only use of the vending machines here. But I don't think I've ever seen one selling pornographic magazines.
We had a very enjoyable long weekend in Rome and met up with an Italian couple from Trieste whom we had met in Tokyo. We spent a lot of time in galleries and museums (staying cool) visiting a fascinating spectrum of exhibitions — Caravaggio’s paintings, Giacomelli’s photography, Flowers from the Renaissance to AI, a collective show by artists in residence at Rome art institutes, and Wangechi Mutu. Amazing! Best wishes John
My husband and I loved Japan when we visited nearly 20 years ago. Especially the quiet contemplative temples in Kyoto. Our reaction was rather odd - we both so loved the trip that we were frightened to go back as it might be a disappointment (as so many things are on revisiting). The honesty was very striking. I still remember that someone mentioned that when a couple left a tip in a restaurant, the owner came running after them because he thought they had left their money by accident. Now, such a trip would be difficult, alas.
There were relatively few tourists in those days, aside from Japanese ones. As a Western white couple, we really stood out and everyone was exceedingly helpful. Perhaps it’s different now.
And I loved Win Wenders _Perfect Days_-- lyrical, simple and yet complex, once you think about it.
I so loved _Wings of Desire_. When my father was alive and my mother had died, he came to my home in D.C. regularly. The key point here is that he spoke Yiddish, so very close to German. When I played the movie for him and went off to cook, I came back to discover that he'd turned the sound off, not realizing that not only could he probably have understood most of it, but also that all foreign films need sound even if we don't speak the language.
I also love Wings of Desire, an extraordinary film, isn't it? And thank you for sharing that touching story, Mary. And I don't think I knew, or maybe had forgotten, about the Germanic roots of Yiddish. Languages are endlessly fascinating, aren't they?
I have heard rumour of these Japanese vending machines and their superiority. Its nice to know it's in fact true. Fun fact, I have never used a vending machine!
I was thinking of Perfect Days as I read ( a favourite film) and then it appeared. There is something quite beautiful about these machines and you wrote so beautifully about them.
This was so interesting! I had no idea Japan had so many vending machines and tnay they were stocked so thoughtfully! It makes me wonder why they don’t do this everywhere!
Love this and I can’t wait to experience. Something popped up on my Instagram about vending machine investment which I had no idea was a thing! So great you can find culture in all places (high and low). Thanks Jeffrey.
This is just another big part of the fascination with Japanese culture. I love how you entertain why there are so many. This was truly educational to contemplate the wonderous uses of a humble vending machine. They're practical, potentially life saving, and a work of art ~ sounds like the Japanese to me!
P.S. Pocari Sweat is not an appealing name for a drink, but sure does hit the spot on a hot day!
Great post, Jeffrey! I’ve always wanted to know more about these vending machines I keep seeing in anime and Japanese video games like Persona 5. They seem so fun! What hqve been some of your favourite offerings?
Thank you, Andrei. It's good to have you here as a reader. When it comes to vending machines here, I stick quite conservatively to water or coffee. Boss black coffee is my favourite for the latter.
Looked it up and it seems cool. Canned black coffee is such a foreign concept to me, though 😅
One of the uncanny things about living in Japan is that the ubiquitous vending machines - those glowing totems of convenience on every corner - promptly vanish the moment you really need one. Walk a Tokyo backstreet on a summer night, parched and hopeful, and you’ll find they’ve somehow all evaporated into the shadows. The same machines that seemed to multiply like urban mushrooms an hour ago, offering cold coffee, hot corn soup, and Pocari Sweat, are nowhere in sight. It’s as if they possess a sixth sense for irony, retreating just when your body aches for hydration or caffeine.
That is so true! A few weeks ago I was walking in the summer heat and thoughtlessly didn’t wear a hat or bring any water with me. I was desperate for a vending machine but absolutely none were in the vicinity. After a hour of trudging along I finally found an old fashioned drinking fountain to slake my thirst. These used to be extremely common but gradually disappeared as capitalistic trends prevailed - instead of free water we now have to pay ¥100+. Or maybe it was because drunkards made them so unsanitary? I particularly enjoy the vending machines at the highway rest stops which play music and show you a video of your coffee being prepared. Japan can be so charming!
I've noticed the same thing when I went to Italy this March. Where have all the drinking fountains gone?!
I’m involved in the Save Jingu Gaien movement. Through that I’ve learned that the government in collaboration with Itochu and Mitsui Fudosan are making all the parks monetized. Hibiya Park has been destroyed so money making events can occur in spaces that were formerly free for the public to enjoy. The famous fountain has even been ripped out. It’s a tragedy which most people aren’t aware of.
A beautifully expressed vignette of life, Gianni!
'School's out for summer' and I am at last able to catch up with yours, and others, posts! What an extraordinary beginning you give me Jeffrey!
I have a pathological hatred for vending machines! In my experience the item I want is either unavailable due the digital ghost in the machine telling me what I want is sold out despite that I see it before my very eyes, or, as it falls it is trapped between metal and glass front that no end of banging the side will release!
And yet you write about hundreds of them, eloquently. And they all work perfectly! If I am ever enticed to try again (it has been many years) I will be checking country of manufacture first!
Thank you, Susie!😊 I've never had one misfunction here. In other countries, yes. Enjoy your summer break!
You found the poetic side of vending machines! A singular piece: Only you could write it, only in Japan. In the age of AI, no small thing.
Thank you, Rona! I guess the urge to write partly comes from the seeking of the poetic in the world around us.
Funnily enough, my next post will have "singular" in the title. It's about Aubrey Beardsley.
“Singular” is a good word. Let’s keep it going.
Thanks for this writing and the photos, Jeffrey! I assume from your piece that Japanese vending machines actually work and you don’t have to bang on them to get your stale snack?
Yes, they work! I've never seen anyone having to kick them or try to shake them to complete their purchase.
Great post Jeffrey. Just catching up after our trip to Japan (where I picked up a bad chest infection, fully recovered now) and a long weekend with Rosy and my brother in a very hot Rome. I love the way your posts are creating a word mosaic of Streeter life. One day perhaps we’ll be able to decide on our own version of your chronology. When I first visited Japan in the mid-eighties I was surprised to find that the local vending machine near my hotel sold—in addition to soft drinks, coffee, tea and sweets—a wide assortment of pornographic magazines.
I’ve lived in Japan since 1980 and I remember being shocked by those. But men also used to unashamedly read pornographic newspapers on the trains. Vending machines selling beer and sake also used to be very common.
Thank you, John. I saw Rome is affected by the current heatwave. I hope it's bearable. Pretty warm here too. Yes, beverages aren't the only use of the vending machines here. But I don't think I've ever seen one selling pornographic magazines.
We had a very enjoyable long weekend in Rome and met up with an Italian couple from Trieste whom we had met in Tokyo. We spent a lot of time in galleries and museums (staying cool) visiting a fascinating spectrum of exhibitions — Caravaggio’s paintings, Giacomelli’s photography, Flowers from the Renaissance to AI, a collective show by artists in residence at Rome art institutes, and Wangechi Mutu. Amazing! Best wishes John
That sounds wonderful!
My husband and I loved Japan when we visited nearly 20 years ago. Especially the quiet contemplative temples in Kyoto. Our reaction was rather odd - we both so loved the trip that we were frightened to go back as it might be a disappointment (as so many things are on revisiting). The honesty was very striking. I still remember that someone mentioned that when a couple left a tip in a restaurant, the owner came running after them because he thought they had left their money by accident. Now, such a trip would be difficult, alas.
There were relatively few tourists in those days, aside from Japanese ones. As a Western white couple, we really stood out and everyone was exceedingly helpful. Perhaps it’s different now.
There are certainly more tourists now! But people in Tokyo are generally helpful.
I understand what you mean about not wanting to spoil a special experience. And yes, the honesty is still pretty remarkable.
Who knew?
And I loved Win Wenders _Perfect Days_-- lyrical, simple and yet complex, once you think about it.
I so loved _Wings of Desire_. When my father was alive and my mother had died, he came to my home in D.C. regularly. The key point here is that he spoke Yiddish, so very close to German. When I played the movie for him and went off to cook, I came back to discover that he'd turned the sound off, not realizing that not only could he probably have understood most of it, but also that all foreign films need sound even if we don't speak the language.
I also love Wings of Desire, an extraordinary film, isn't it? And thank you for sharing that touching story, Mary. And I don't think I knew, or maybe had forgotten, about the Germanic roots of Yiddish. Languages are endlessly fascinating, aren't they?
I’d not forgotten💞
I have heard rumour of these Japanese vending machines and their superiority. Its nice to know it's in fact true. Fun fact, I have never used a vending machine!
Perhaps you can change that if you visit Japan!
I live that they don't get vandalised. No wonder you live in Japan.
I was thinking of Perfect Days as I read ( a favourite film) and then it appeared. There is something quite beautiful about these machines and you wrote so beautifully about them.
Thank you, Deborah. That's a very kind thing to say. And I'm glad to hear that you also like Perfect Days!
This was so interesting! I had no idea Japan had so many vending machines and tnay they were stocked so thoughtfully! It makes me wonder why they don’t do this everywhere!
I fear one reason you don't see so many vending machines in the streets in the UK is that they might be too tempting a target for local vandals...
That’s actually a very good, albeit unfortunate, point.
Thanks Jeffrey :)
Love this and I can’t wait to experience. Something popped up on my Instagram about vending machine investment which I had no idea was a thing! So great you can find culture in all places (high and low). Thanks Jeffrey.
Enjoy those beverages! 🙂 I'm sure you will have a fabulous time here
I am now imagining an anime film entirely cast with vending machines and it is delightful.
I'd like to see that 😊
I was visualising the routine in Perfect Days from your first few paragraphs. Delighted to find it mentioned as I read on.
It's a film that leaves that kind of lasting impression, isn't it?
This is just another big part of the fascination with Japanese culture. I love how you entertain why there are so many. This was truly educational to contemplate the wonderous uses of a humble vending machine. They're practical, potentially life saving, and a work of art ~ sounds like the Japanese to me!
P.S. Pocari Sweat is not an appealing name for a drink, but sure does hit the spot on a hot day!
Thank you, Lani! I'm impressed too with how vending machines can be used in so many ways. And I agree with you about Pocari Sweat!
Pocari sweat brings me back to my HK days and I agree - but it was so necessary on 95% humidity hikes!
😊 Absolutely!