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Letter From Tokyo
New wave of vending machines takes root in Japan
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Vending machines are making a comeback as they evolve beyond just dispensing drinks and light snacks. From Korean ginseng chicken soup to caviar and even special surprises, newfangled vending machines are offering more than just convenience.
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TOKYO - From the summit of the 3,776m-tall Mount Fuji to the emptiest of plains in rural Hokkaido with nothing else in sight for miles, the inviting lights of a vending machine beckon passers-by to slot in some change for a drink.
Any visitor to Japan will be struck by how ubiquitous these machines - known as jido hanbaiki in Japanese - are, and it will come as no surprise that Japan lays claim to the honour of having the world's highest density of vending machines per capita.
