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Oct 19 2021 16 Comments

The distinct personalities of old and disused Japanese vending machines

Quite why I find them so appealing isn’t easy to explain, but there really is something special about old and disused vending machines. Each one seems to have its own distinct personality, or at the very least a sort of quiet dignity. All of which is utter nonsense of course, as in reality they are simply decaying metal boxes, and yet somehow, in some way, they are also a lot more than that.

Now, whether there’s any truth in any of that is very subjective to say the least, but for me, the beauties below contain elements of everything I’ve tried, and likely failed, to articulate. Slightly older edits of a couple of the photos have appeared on Tokyo Times before. A few of the machines have too, although these are newer, or previously unpublished shots. The others are recent finds. Discoveries that, in their own inexplicable way, made the day they were stumbled upon way more memorable than it would have been otherwise.

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

old and broken Japanese vending machines

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Paul Diamond says

    10/19/2021 at 8:44 am

    Looks like a human skull to the right of the Suntory machine. Wouldn’t surprise me much.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/19/2021 at 8:34 pm

      Ah, does a bit, doesn’t it? What a thing that would be if all broken vending machines had skulls next to them…

      Reply
  2. Jotta Vinti junior says

    10/19/2021 at 8:50 am

    Uma imagem mais interessante que a outra.
    Agora, eu tenho uma curiosidade.
    Quem é responsável por essas maquinas?
    A manutenção é feita pelo proprietário da loja (que tem o espaço físico aonde ela está), ou é a empresa que oferece o produto?
    Eu estou fazendo essa pergunta porque parece que as maquinas ainda estão funcionando, apesar da aparência de algumas delas.
    (Senhor Chapman, espero que tudo esteja bem com o senhor.)

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/19/2021 at 8:40 pm

      Sadly none of these are working. All broken or simply not switched on. When it comes to other machines though, maintenance seems to be down to the company, but as far as stock goes, it appears to depend. Often it’s the companies that come and fill them up, but for cigarettes and booze, it invariably seems to be the shop owner. That’s only my observations though. can’t say for sure.

      And thank you very much. I’m doing ok I guess all things considered. I hope all is well with you.

      Reply
  3. Sean says

    10/19/2021 at 12:46 pm

    These are very cool. I agree with you 100%. Sure gotta love beer machines!

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/19/2021 at 8:42 pm

      Cheers, that’s good to know. And yeah, but not so many left these days…

      Reply
  4. cdilla says

    10/19/2021 at 5:08 pm

    When you use a thing like a toy or a tool day in day out for many years it becomes part of your world. A reliable friend.
    When you see other such things, owned and used by others, abandoned, you feel empathy. Well, I do 🙂
    The “CIGARETTES” machine with it’s faded old brick wall lower facia is my favourite of these. When the machine died someone kept putting money in the slot. So the slot was taped over. And still someone push their coin in anyway, perhaps in an attempt to get a packet of “Hope” to see them through they day.
    Interesting how many small gaps low down in the walls there are.
    And crafty leaving the strongest clue to the location in the middle of a rare StreetView void. But finding the nearby Iris Park was a treat non-the-less 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/19/2021 at 8:47 pm

      That’s a good way of explaining it. Definitely how I feel too.

      Yeah, that particular cigarette machine is really special. A sign of real actual hope whoever tried that. Or perhaps simple desperation…

      Haha, I didn’t know that was the case. That really would be planning and shooting on another level. Glad to hear the search wasn’t totally without joy though.

      Reply
  5. Richard says

    10/19/2021 at 8:55 pm

    Still amazes me that beer can be sold through vending machines. What other country in the world allows that?!? And the sales of cigarettes this way brings back lots of memories of ‘the good old days.’

    Thanks!

    I hope you are doing okay.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/20/2021 at 9:08 am

      I know. Definitely one thing that took me by surprise when I first got here. There were no methods to check ID back then either, and yet they still weren’t surrounded by underage drinkers…

      Thanks a lot Richard. I’m just about managing, which is good enough for now I think all things considered.

      Reply
      • Richard says

        10/20/2021 at 8:47 pm

        ‘Just about managing’ is very good after the untimely passing of your wife. While the old adage of time heals all has some merit, it also helps a lot to be engaged with one’s work, a favorite activity or two, and a few close friends.

        Please stay safe and well.

        Reply
        • Lee says

          10/20/2021 at 9:51 pm

          Thanks ever so much. Yeah, keeping busy with what I enjoy is a huge help. In fact, without photography, I can’t even imagine how things would be. That and good friends really have allowed me to get through each day. A lot to feel sorry about, but also things to be incredibly grateful for.

          Reply
  6. Günter says

    10/20/2021 at 1:11 pm

    These are all very interesting to me. I think the two CocaCola might be worth a lot of money.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/20/2021 at 9:41 pm

      Cheers, glad to hear it. And yeah, I reckon they must be, although simply moving them would also be very costly I imagine.

      Reply
  7. Bernadette Siobhan Loftus says

    10/20/2021 at 7:17 pm

    I can’t help anthropomorphising these vending machines. The way you shot them definitely gives them character. I feel sad for them. Have you ever seen the 1987 animated film The Brave Little Toaster? It’s about some abandoned appliances that go looking for their owner. These shots remind me of that. Thanks for that bit of nostalgia.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      10/20/2021 at 9:46 pm

      You are more than welcome. Glad to hear you feel the same way, and very happy to hear how I shot them helped with that. Ah, never even heard of that, let alone seen it. Totally understand why it came to mind though.

      Reply

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