Why is Japan losing its thirst for vending machines? | FT #shorts
Tens of thousands of vending machines are vanishing from Japan, as machines that once symbolised the nation’s love of innovation are shunned in a climate of rising inflation and deepening labour shortages, the FT’s Harry Dempsey explains.
The nation’s stock of 2.2mn drinks vending machines is down 23% from its bubble-era peak in 1985, according to the Japan Vending System Manufacturers Association.
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Produced by Paolo Pascual.
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7 Comments
The invisible hand of market has spoken
Seen enough anime to know Japan will figure out the labor shortage with Android maids or something. The funny thing is given the nature of vending machines you probably could automate the refill with a robot. You know exactly what was purchased and where to place everything.
Christ Youtube has completely lost control of spambots, the comments on thisnpost are a disgrace
So if Japan doesn't have absurd amount of vending machines anymore and trends toward the world norm like a normal economy, then a white man announces that it's Japan's fault for not innovating fast enough?
"japan is living 2050"
Convenient machine were meant to be the cheaper alternate in the beginning
Big convenience store chains can artificially keep prices of beverages low as a "loss leader", and have a system of manning their stores with immigrants, including lobbying. The absurd number of vending machines made more sense in the 90s when labor costs were higher.