Monday, December 04, 2006

Vending Machines


People frequently ask me about my life abroad and my experience teaching in Japan. I always tell them how I fell in love with the Japanese culture and how rich in history, art and spirit the country is. I just love Japan! I could go on and on about tea ceremonies, calligraphy, kimonos, geisha, the language, the people, the beautiful countryside, the crazy busy big cities, the advanced technology and all my crazy everyday experiences.

One of my friends asked me about vending machines. "Is it true you can buy used school girl panties in vending machines there?" Surprisingly, the answer is "yes"! You can purchase almost anything in vending machines there. Why one would even want a pair of used panties is beyond me! There are so many different types of machines to cater to your every whim. From hot or cold tea, chocolate milk and coffee, beer, beer, and BEER...sake (Japanese alcoholic beverage that seemed to me as strong as tequila!), toilet paper, food items...and yes, even porn. I was shocked to see men buying everything from magazines to other unmentionables from the machines. There are vending machines everywhere. I'd never seen so many in my life. You can even choose from dozens of brands of cigarettes and they're super cheap in Japan. I don't smoke, but when my mom came to visit me when I was teaching in Japan, she just thought it was so cool to get her smokes, Coke, disposable camera, and stamps for her postcards all from vending machines. *sigh* That's one of the cool things I miss about Japan. Very convenient!

Here's a site I found where a guy named PhotoMann has pics of all the neat vending machines you can find in Japan. http://www.photomann.com/japan/machines/

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, I remember receiving photos and letters from you about life over there. So funny about the vending machines. You said you could even get your milk and cereal in the vending machine in from of your apartment in Japan! Right next to the beer machine! Funny!

Anonymous said...

Someone said there was a place in Japan where you could buy mushrooms in vendingmachines. Is that true? Talk about all the crazy things people can buy over there! That's very Interesting!

Unknown said...

Anon, do you mean 'shrooms as in the ones you cook with or eat raw OR the magical kind? If it's the latter type, a friend of mine said that he bought the magical variety in a vending machine in Japan. I don't know if it's true though. He was the type to make things up, so I have no idea.

BusyMamma said...

OMG...i miss all those vending maching items in Asia. I used to get my morning coffee, on the subway platform everyday- here all i can get is a bunch of tokens from the machine!

Unknown said...

LOL! Dina, I know! I used to get "Royal Milk Tea" in the morning before teaching! I loved how you could get canned beverages hot OR cold! It was the coolest thing ever!

Anonymous said...

I like looking at the interesting things they have in the vending machines. Pocari Sweat, anyone?

Unknown said...

Hi JapanMan. I've tried Pocari Sweat before, but am not a fan. LOL! It's supposed to be a "sports drink" but I think it tastes horrible ;p I do miss Calpiss (LOL the name always makes me laugh) and Chu-hai. Orenji-chu-hai and Dita Tonic were my faves. Guess one has to be in Japan (or have been to Japan) to know what I mean :)

Ms. Mamma said...

Ahhhhh, Japan. I want to experience this myself and also to be able to buy all of the cool Nightmare Before Christmas or Badtz Maru trinkets.

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City girl moves to the country, falls in love, and marries a farmer. She tries to incorporate her city ways with her new country lifestyle and blogs to keep in touch with friends, family & students who live far, far away :) Can this city girl go country? Watch as she learns all sorts of exciting things about life on the farm and in a small rural community. *UPDATE* We are now parents! Our baby girl was born on Nov. 11, 2008 (at 28 weeks gestation- 12 weeks premature, but she's quite the trooper)!!!
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