{"id":7097,"date":"2022-02-24T03:51:01","date_gmt":"2022-02-24T03:51:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/?p=7097"},"modified":"2022-02-24T03:51:01","modified_gmt":"2022-02-24T03:51:01","slug":"vending-machines-an-important-part-of-japanese-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/vending-machines-an-important-part-of-japanese-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Vending Machines \u2013 an Important Part of Japanese Culture"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>What do you think many international visitors are most surprised and impressed with when visiting Japan?\u00a0Combini (convenience stores). You guessed it. It has been well-known, but the Tokyo Olympics put the Japanese combini in the major international media. Another thing &#8211; \u00a0maybe vending machines (\u81ea\u52d5\u8ca9\u58f2\u6a5f jidouhanbaiki). They are everywhere. I mean, everywhere.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7099\" style=\"width: 360px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft post-item__attachment\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7099\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7099\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280-350x233.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7099\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/ja\/users\/rvlak-6080987\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=2592159\">Ren\u00e9 Vlak<\/a>\u306b\u3088\u308b<a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/ja\/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=2592159\">Pixabay<\/a>\u304b\u3089\u306e\u753b\u50cf<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In 2020, there were over 4 million vending machines in Japan, which was a 2.4% decline from 2019, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ryutsuu.biz\/strategy\/m121619.html\">Ryutsu News<\/a>. The revenue (\u58f2\u308a\u4e0a\u3052uriage) that the vending machines generated in 2020 amounted to \u00a55 trillion (US$43.6 billion). Just for comparison (\u6bd4\u8f03 hikaku), although I could not find comparative data, the US had 7 million vending machines, the largest in the world. <a href=\"https:\/\/finance.yahoo.com\/news\/global-vending-machines-markets-report-092300827.html?guccounter=1&amp;guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&amp;guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAC99nY2sAXJxaIzT2hJ6cKpRbjre3RYZKz_gBfe6Sc_Kx4iABTMrR1C135csmhvlhLtRo3NhPGgcfIrPyZRNCTN4hOwdPb0mDRM6IWadR6VH_HRY-EvfFa3SS8y1ZW924cnoKgmDnpyEen8oQXK01vkLBBUFH_LyotKMOJrDmiYK\">Yahoo finance<\/a> reports the US revenue was approximately US$36 billion.\u00a0 Japan has the highest number of vending machines per capita (\u4e00\u4eba\u3042\u305f\u308a hitoriatari).<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Japan&#039;s ever-evolving vending machines\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CFMnZHOvMN4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>So why? Simply, it is convenient. You can buy a can of coffee, hot or cold, anytime you want and consume it. Vending machines have been evolving (\u9032\u6b69\u3059\u308bshinposuru). There are vending machines that provide Wi-Fi to much-needed service to the Wi-Fi-deprived country, that give prizes, and that give hot and cold beverages\/foods, that dispense toys and knickknacks, you name it!\u00a0 Vending machines are everywhere \u2013 on the street corner of Tokyo, and on the farm roads through the rice fields. Also, it is fun to watch the vending machines that show you how your ordered item is being prepared \u2013 after all the Japanese love robots! I inserted money into a vending machine and chose a type of coffee. Then a video started on the vending machine \u2013 a video showing your cup of coffee being brewed. And it may sound strange, but I felt somehow more affection to the cup of coffee when I finally held the cup in my hand.\u00a0 It was as if I watched its little life in a movie.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"I Tried Unique Japanese Vending Machines In Tokyo\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Fr-qagv7ig0?start=1309&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Some international media point out that the labor cost (\u4eba\u4ef6\u8cbb jinkenhi) is very high in Japan,resulting in the popularity of vending machines. But I must oppose this theory. The Japanese average annual income (\u5e73\u5747\u5e74\u53ce heikin nenshu) is notoriously low. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/heikinnenshu.jp\/column\/chuochi.html\">Heikinnenshu<\/a>, the average income in 2019 was US$39,000 (), while the median income (\u5e74\u53ce\u4e2d\u592e\u5024 nenshu chuouchi), which probably shows a more accurate picture, was US$24,000 \u2013 31,000 based on today\u2019s rate. It is a sad and upsetting fact that there is a vast salary difference between the genders. The median income for men amounted to US$27,000, while that of women was US$20,000. Japan ranked 14<sup>th<\/sup> in the global median income.<\/p>\n<p>But the number of vending machines in Japan has been declining, mainly because of the stiff competition (\u7af6\u4e89 kyouso) with combini stores. They are open all the time, and they are also in many places providing more products and services. The continuing decrease in population is, of course, a supporting factor in this trend.\u00a0 There are other reasons for the continuous decline; 1) heavy dependence (\u4f9d\u5b58 izon) on beverages (\u98f2\u6599 inryo), and 2) the saturation of locations.<\/p>\n<p>I believe, however, the vending machine industry will continue to evolve, not by quantity but by the quality. It is important to touch an important niche (\u9699\u9593 sukima) area that has been getting so much attention. That is a vintage vending machine as Retro Jihanki (\u81ea\u8ca9\u6a5f short for \u81ea\u52d5\u8ca9\u58f2\u6a5f) as Japanese call it. There were YouTubers that had been uploading videos on places with retro vending machines. It has been increasingly popular thanks to nostalgia and better than expected tastes.<\/p>\n<p>Here is one of such nostalgic vending machine paradises.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u30ec\u30c8\u30ed\u81ea\u8ca9\u6a5f\u306e\u8056\u5730\u30a4\u30c1\u30aa\u30b7\u306e\u5de1\u308a\u65b9\u3068\u98df\u3079\u307e\u304f\u308a\u7269\u8a9e\u3002\u3010\u30bf\u30a4\u30e4\u5e02\u5834\u76f8\u6a21\u539f\u3011\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tsA7zeJ5JAc?start=34&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>At these retro vending machine sites, hot dishes are made by the owners or local shops instead of large corporations \u2013 foods are prepared every day. If you do not go there early, you will most likely be met by \u201csold out\u201d (\u58f2\u308a\u5207\u308c urikire) signs. Many of these vending machines are old, and many parts are no longer available.\u00a0 So the machines are affectionately treated by both the owners and the customers.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"\u3010\u5168\u56fd\u304b\u3089\u5ba2\u304c\u7d9a\u3005\u3011\u4f1d\u8aac\u306e\u30c9\u30e9\u30a4\u30d6\u30a4\u30f3\u3000\u5947\u8de1\u7684\u306b\u751f\u304d\u6b8b\u3063\u305f\u81ea\u8ca9\u6a5f\u3068\u652f\u3048\u308b\u4eba\u3005\u3010\u4eac\u90fd\uff65\u821e\u9db4\u5e02\u3011\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ExZr6GCNvew?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>My family has had a grocery store for 400 years \u2013 of course, it did not start as a grocery store, and it is no longer a grocery store. When it was a full grocery store, I remember my dad had to go to the store every day, even his day-off, to refill the vending machines. There are no automated machines after all.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<img width=\"350\" height=\"233\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280-350x233.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2022\/02\/soda-2592159_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 350px) 100vw, 350px\" \/><p>What do you think many international visitors are most surprised and impressed with when visiting Japan?\u00a0Combini (convenience stores). You guessed it. It has been well-known, but the Tokyo Olympics put the Japanese combini in the major international media. Another thing &#8211; \u00a0maybe vending machines (\u81ea\u52d5\u8ca9\u58f2\u6a5f jidouhanbaiki). They are everywhere. I mean, everywhere. In 2020, there&hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"post-item__readmore\"><a class=\"btn btn--md\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/vending-machines-an-important-part-of-japanese-culture\/\">Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":173,"featured_media":7099,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3,548067],"tags":[550952,550954,550953,550951,550950],"class_list":["post-7097","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-food","tag-average-annual-income","tag-combini","tag-median-income","tag-retro","tag-vending-machine"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/173"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7097"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7097\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7101,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7097\/revisions\/7101"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7099"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/japanese\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}