If you ever travelled to Japan, you know vending machines are everywhere. They are on street corners, at bus stops, on beaches, in every park, in the middle of nowhere. Whenever I needed a caffeine boost for my late-night college study, all I had to do was get a canned coffee from the vending machine right outside my house. In fact, there were about 20 machines on my street in Tokyo, and I'm talking about the 1980s.
According to the data published by Japan Vending System Manufacturers Association (JVMA), there were over 4 million (4,045,800) vending machines all across the country as of 2020. The population in the same year was 125.8 million (125,836,021) according to the World Data Bank. This means there was one vending machine for every 31 people.
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Why do they need so many? You may ask. But it's just the standard of automation is different and the way of thinking is different. When I first came to the UK 3 decades ago, I was asking the same question. Why doesn't this country have any vending machines? Why can't I buy anything at 2 a.m.? It took me a while to work out the reasons;
- Unattended machines will only be vandalised here in the UK. Japanese don't vandalise. Sure, there are some assholes, but you'll rarely find them over there.
- Japanese customer services are said to be the best in the world. If a machine goes out of order, someone must come to fix it immediately. No excuse, no exceptional circumstances. We don't have that kind of resources.
- We don't buy stuff at 2 a.m. We wait until the shops open. Japanese would say that's so inconvenient.
There Were Even More 10 Years Ago
According to the same data sources respectively, in 2010, the number of vending machines was 5.2 million (5,206,850) and the total population was 128 million (128,070,000).
Number of vending machines in Japan 2010-2020 as per JVMA
This makes that just over a decade ago, there was one vending machine for every 24.5 people.
A couple of factors have contributed to the change in the ratio since. The number of vending machines decreased by 1.2 million and the population decreased by 2.2 million during the last decade. So understandably, one major factor is the shrinking population - Japan is no longer able to maintain its infrastructure the same way.
The other factor is "Konbini (convenience store) coffee". Automatic bean-to-cup coffee machines are now widely available in convenience stores over there. They can get a Starbucks-quality cup of coffee for as little as 100 yen, i.e. less than $1. All they do is press a button and pay at the cashier, so there's no longer a reason for them to take out a coffee from a cafe.
I believe those automatic fresh coffee machines are also popular in other countries like China and Korea. But it's the availability - the number of convenience stores in Japan is also huge. In 2020, there were 56,000 of them across the country according to Statista, which works out as one for every 2,000 people, compared to one for every 8,000 people in the US. It makes sense that people turn to fresh coffee from a convenience store instead of canned coffee from a vending machine, which I still think tastes decent.
Did You Know? Other Surprising Facts About Japanese Vendine Machines
- Diversity of Products: Beyond drinks, you can find machines selling hot food, umbrellas, toys, and even books.
- Energy Efficient: Newer models are energy-efficient, with features like LED lighting and motion sensors to save power.
- Safety Features: In emergencies, some vending machines are designed to provide free drinks or can be used as communication points.
- Location-Specific Items: Some machines sell items unique to their location, such as fresh produce in rural areas or local specialties.
- 24/7 Operation: Vending machines operate around the clock, providing convenience at any hour. It is possible in Japan because people hardly ever vandalise!
- Rare Finds: There are machines that sell rare and unique items, from vintage camera films to collectible toys.
- Disaster Preparedness: Some are stocked with essentials like water and food, intended for use during disasters.
- Automated Meal Vending: Machines offering full meals, like ramen or rice dishes, are available, often in busy or remote areas.
- Support for Small Businesses: Local farmers and producers use vending machines to sell their goods directly to consumers.
- Eco-Friendly Options: Recyclable and reusable container initiatives are increasingly common.
- Innovative Payment Solutions: Some support cryptocurrency payments, showcasing Japan's forward-thinking approach to technology.
- Maintenance and Cleanliness: Machines are regularly and meticulously maintained, ensuring high standards of hygiene.
- Customization and Personalization: Users can sometimes customize their purchases, especially in coffee vending machines.
- Integration with Public Transport: Stations frequently feature machines, allowing travelers to grab drinks and snacks on the go.
Unplugged Vending Machines
Japanese law prohibits anyone under the age of 20 to drink alcohol. The vending machines are the loophole. Back in the early 1980s, right. Alcohol vending machines were "switched off" after 11 p.m. But we needed to carry on partying. Convenience stores wouldn't sell us beer. What did we do?
Not all the vending machines were being automatically shut off in those days. Most were physically plugged into a wall outlet. A plug, just like a household power socket. So every night, whoever owned the machine had to come and unplug it. If they forgot, then beers were available throughout the rest of the night. Most of the nights the machines were switched off. All we had to do was go to the back of the machine, plug it in, buy some cans of beer, and then unplug it. Some crazy days. ?
