User:Giraffer/Vending machines in Japan

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Four beverage vending machines in Shibuya, Tokyo.

Vending machines are considered to be a significant part of Japanese culture. As of 2022, there were an estimated 3.96 million machines in Japan, with the country having the highest ratio of vending machines per person in the world.[1][2]

Japanese vending machines are known for selling a much wider range of products than can typically be found in similar machines internationally; machines in Japan have been known to sell food such as ramen, curry, and baked potatoes, as well as convenience items, including SIM cards and face masks.[3][4]

History[edit]

Vending machines are known to have existed in Japan since the late 1800s. The oldest exant model is believed to be a wooden device made by Takashichi Tawaraya in 1904, which featured systems for filtering out counterfeit coins and returning money if the machine's stock was empty. The number and functions of vending machines grew throughout the early 20th century, with machines being used to sell a wide variety of items, such as train tickets, tobacco, and chewing gum.[5]

The first refrigerated vending machine in Japan was a 1957 device that sold fresh juice for 10 yen. The number of these juice machines grew rapidly in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and following the introduction of Coca-Cola vending machines in 1962, the popularity of vending machines boomed nationally; between 1967 and 1973, the number of beverage vending machines increased by an average of 48% anually.[6]

Products sold[edit]

Items known to have been sold in vending machines in Japan include:

Reasons for popularity[edit]

The efficiency and convenience of vending machines are widely regarded as the biggest factors contributing to their popularity in Japan. They require little maintenance, and remove the need for human workers, meaning products can be sold at all times of day.[5][7][8][9]

Vending machines also play a role in Japan's natural hazard response. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some vending machines began selling hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and disposable face masks.[10] Several machines in Akō have been designed to release items for free in the event of a natural disaster, and in multiple Japanese cities, vending machines play emergency radio broadcasts.[11][12]

Gallery[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Martin, Alex K. T. (9 May 2022). "Out of the box: Japan's vending machines get a modern makeover amid pandemic". The Japan Times. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Vending Machine Data". Japan Vending System Manufacturers Association. December 2022. Retrieved 13 August 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ Fung, Amanda. "7 impressive food vending machines in Japan". Tatler Asia. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Cooled masks sold in Japan's vending machines prove a hit in pandemic". The Japan Times. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  5. ^ a b Higuchi, Yoshihiro (March 2007). "History of the Development of Beverage Vending Machine Technology in Japan" (PDF). National Museum of Nature and Science: Survey Reports on the Systemization of Technologies. 7.
  6. ^ Parr, Patrick (27 June 2023). "Coca-Cola storms Japanese market in late 1950s". Japan Today. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  7. ^ Prisco, Jacopo (31 July 2019). "The beauty of Japan's lonely vending machines". CNN Style. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  8. ^ Mansfield, Stephen (16 May 2023). "Japan's vending machine culture is ahead of the curve". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  9. ^ Demetriou, Danielle (12 April 2023). "What's behind Japan's vending-machine obsession?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 April 2024. {{cite web}}: Check |archive-url= value (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ Imada, Kaila (13 October 2020). "Vending machines in Japan are now selling face masks and sanitising wipes". Time Out Tokyo. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  11. ^ Jankowicz, Mia (2 June 2023). "Japan has introduced vending machines that automatically offer free food if an earthquake hits". Insider. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
  12. ^ Kato, Shohei (30 January 2023). "Vending machine in Tokyo park to air emergency info". Mainichi Daily News. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
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