8.16.2006

Alrighty, just a mini post here for you today. I wanted to highlight something I thought was pretty cool with some of the vending machines in Japan, point cards! So after you make your first purchase from the machine you push the button and receive a magnetic card. Here is a shot of where the card is dispensed after the purchase.


This next slot is of where you insert your money. There is a coin slot and a slot for ¥1000 bills, just under $10. Just below the slot is where you insert your point card with a small display to show you your current point total.


And what is the purpose of all these points you have been collecting by drinking iced coffee, green tea and other goodies? Let’s take a look at the wonderful prizes!



From what I can gather, the prizes include: instant coffee, a toy truck or car, Hanes flip flops, a coffee mug, a Del Monte t-shirt, a Champion tote bag, Snap-On tools allen wrench set, a Michelin jacket, Pringles inflatable chair, Molten soccer ball, and more coffee. Wow. All for joining Club Dydo point card vending machine happy fun dream time explosion. Word.

8.15.2006

Booyah! Here’s another round of machines from the land of the rising sun. These machines were in front of a drug store near my apartment. Near the entrance there were always stacks of diapers and paper towels for sale. From the looks of this picture, to the left of the machine, apparently they sold gloves too. These first two machines were quite the disappointment. I was stoked to see the giant machines in all their glory, but found out they were made of plastic. I felt betrayed and disappointed. How dare they make these machines? Plastic! Anyways, this first one features fake World Cup soccer balls. To get around the copyright it reads something like World Soccer Hard Ball.


This next fake gumball machine has phone straps. The text translates, loosely, Docomo air mascot strap. Why air is in there, your guess is as good as mine. Docomo is a cell phone company that uses this mushroom character as their icon. It really isn't that cute compared to other mascots. For instance, another company uses a lil squirrel with headphones as theirs. Come on, now that is just cute. But this?


More damn soccer balls! I’m guessing the machine on the left appears to be the 5th series of these balls. Where the machine on the right is series 3. I think these are two different manufacturers of balls because the Series 3 text reads World Soccer Super Ball. When I was teaching, I never saw kids with these balls. I just can’t imagine them being so popular that two different companies would feel the public needed super balls with fake World Cup designs this bad. At least the machines are metal.


Now we got some goods here. Fortune Diamond! Another sweet lil charm for your phone or bag. Now my Japanese ain’t too good so what I have to write about this is all conjecture. Each Fortune Diamond is a different color to bring the owner good luck in different areas. If you have any other ideas, please share them in the comments. The second machine is the return of the Air Sword! Air Sword II! Compared to Air Sword I, I can’t see any visible difference between the two in construction. But there are 3 new colors available. Sweet. George Lucas should be proud.

8.06.2006

Long time no see! Here is a mini post to wet your appetite for gumball machines from Japan. I have been in the states for about the last month having a most wonderful time eating large portions of Mexican food and getting my butt handed to me by my sister in fierce battles of Scrabble (though I am getting good at those seven letter words). I will be returning to Japan later this month and am very excited because I will be closer to Tokyo. Booyah! So I figured before I make the move I should finish up the pictures of the machines I took before I left.

These machines were in front of a video game shop. They sold mostly new games but also had used ones too. Also, they had many slot machines inside, which seemed weird to me. There would be teens hanging out playing slot machines, though I think it was very unlikely they were winning cash. Possibly they would win video games or snacks. There was quite a snack selection inside: ramen, dried squid, chocolate, gum, mints. Dunno. I just love that these machines are blue.




We gots some dinosaurs again.


Then we have something called Training Game. It appears to be a lil logic puzzle type game. They are pretty popular nowadays.


And here we have some charm-type bracelets. I think they collapse so you can put them in your pocket on the go!


How about some Rainbow Springs? Maybe they are like Slinky? Or more bracelets?


And here is a lil peek inside the dinosaur machine. It's nice to catch a glimpse of all the plastic goodness that lies inside.


It took me forever to photograph these gumball machines. For the longest time most of them were broken or empty. Then one day I biked by and saw that they were ready for me. It was a good day, I didn't use my AK.