To add one more strange and interesting cultural phenomenon to the list of things one might find in Japan, I now address the subject of vending machines. Japan has, per capita, the highest amount of vending machines in the entire world. Millions and millions of these things litter the streets of the country, and estimates put the total ratio of vending machines at one for every 23 people. It is not uncommon to find clusters of them on any given street corner or within places of business. In fact, it’s more unusual to find a machine standing alone. Any journey on foot down the streets of a city such as Tokyo will have you passing an endless stream of items being sold in this convenient manner.
