One thing that strikes any first-time visitor to Japan is the sheer number of vending machines that are scattered almost everywhere on streets, in malls, at railway stations, underpasses, even public toilets. Japanese people seem to be obsessed with them, after all, if they were not in demand there would be far less, surely. They dispense almost every possible consumer good that will fit in them, everything from food, drinks, cosmetics, electronic goods, umbrellas, clothing even used ladies underwear...