Stimuli

One thing you notice about Japanese small towns is how depopulated they are. For a while now the Japanese have been abandoning country towns for the big cities. Many a westerner dreams of retiring to the country.  A Japanese dreams of retiring in a city. That's where the amenities are, that's where their companions are. Also agriculture needs less people now.


To add to Japan's woes, the birth rate has been below replacement.  Having children is a lot of work and expense for a working couple and they often stop at one. Planners are worried about the aging population.


So far this is common knowledge. When you visit you will notice that the government has been throwing money at country towns, probably to provide work but also in a attempt to kickstart consumption.  Unfortunately the economy stubbornly refuses to fire.  Adam observed this spending during his bicycle tour.  Spanking new schools for a handful of kids, new hospitals, civic facilities that hardly get used, museums for trivial exhibits, and so forth have been built.  In Toya-ko Onsen, there is a Memorial Museum to the G8 summit held there in 2008 when the Global Fried Chicken struck.  Exhibits include the table the world leaders used. Wow, I can see the tourists queuing up to visit that. 


Adam thought that the problem is that their legal and administrative system doesn't give much support to small businesses. The economy is dominated by the corporate behemoths and jobs with those are located in the large urban areas. It's really a pity, because with small businesses and tip-top computer and communications technology, which Japan lacks nothing of, jobs could be distributed to country areas.

Vending machines of Japan, part 1 of 167

Alright, alright, just kidding, there isn't that much to write about vending machines. But they sure are ubiquitous here. You are doing a walk in the wilds of Hokkaido and suddenly you realise it's getting dark and you are lost. Your mobile doesn't work; you are in a reception shadow. But what's that behind the tree? Sure enough, a vending machine.

Ok, ok, just kidding again, my fantasies running wild. I'll stick to the facts. Most vending machines sell drinks, cold cans and even hot tea and coffee cans. Next most frequent are probably the cancer stick, er cigarette, machines.

Then there are the interesting ones. Here's a hot food vending machine in a bus terminal.

Here's one at Asahikawa train station. It's on the platform, so I think the enclosure is so that people don't get frozen trying to work it in winter.

Here's a fruit drink packet vending machine. Unlike in the West, these are not very common in Japan.

At last here is one I haven't seen before, an icecream vending machine. Pretty good quality too for 120¥.

A chewing gum vending machine.




I will add more specimens as I come across them


Figures indicate that there is one machine for every 23 people in Japan. Now here's an interesting thought for a B grade movie: what if in a science-fiction way, the machines acquired group intelligence and started terrorising the humans. Better than Godzilla. Hahaha.