Back in February, I wrote this to accompany a series of photographs depicting some long-defunct vending machines:
“Japan is well known for its vending machines. With good reason too, as despite the ever-increasing number of convenience stores, the vending machine is still ubiquitous. Yet seeing one that’s no longer operational, let alone left to rot, is surprisingly rare.”
The ubiquity of such machines, of course, is most definitely still true, but the rarity of busted and forlorn looking examples, it turns out, is very much open to debate, as on walks in the last month, I’ve had the genuine pleasure of seeing the sad beauties below.
Coli says
Beautiful series again Lee! I love how the shadow seems to be cutting the first cigarette vending machine in half. The green rice one is definitely great color too.
Lee says
Thank you Coli. Yeah, the shadows on that first one were great. I walked past at just the right time.
The rice one really is special. Trouble is it’s always in the shade, but fortunately this time it wasn’t too dark.
DavidT says
Awesome. I’m very happy to see more of these! 🙂
Lee says
Cheers. Glad to hear it. Can’t get enough of them myself.
cdilla says
Great collection. There is something about vending machines that appeals to me, as there is retro stuff, and the fine art of decay, so this is a most awesome post for me!
I saw the odd slogan “Nice Day, Nice Smoking” on the brick machine and followed it up to find this… https://tinyurl.com/y7bbt82s
Aside from the flock of healthy folk not smoking on the picture, notice the green of the frame? Looks to me the same green as the green machine. So much detail to these photographs. I fear my productivity this morning will suffer 🙂
Lee says
Thank you. I feel exactly the same about them. So much to enjoy.
I’ve seen that slogan on a lot of shops, machines and signs of a certain age, so it was clearly a popular one. It does have a nice ring to it that’s for sure, although what exactly nice smoking is remains unclear.
Ah, yes. A perfect match. That rice machine is one of my favourites as it’s something of a rarity, and of course colour wise it’s similarly unusual. Well, it is Friday, and these are stressful times. so the perfect excuse to go easy on yourself, and easy on the work!
PaulS says
Surprised to see that Coke vending machine – here in the States, that style was used in the 1950’s and 1960’s and vanished long ago and can only be seen now in museums.
Lee says
Oh, that is interesting. Clearly it’s old, but had no idea it was so old. It’d be lovely to know when it was last used, but sadly I’ve never seen the place open, so nobody to ask..
Linda says
I love the rice machine and its potted plant garden. Wish I were there.
Lee says
Yeah, the rice vending machine is special in so many ways. It’ll just be a matter of time before you are back though. And after all this has passed, it’ll feel even better when you are.
Linda says
I’m having a very hard time believing that lately, but I hope you’re right.
john says
I’m a 饭 of the rice one also; the carefully co-ordinated pots, green to the left and blue to the right, the escape from the frame and a little shibari (as in a broken calculator) too!
For the musical accompaniment I was reminded of the wonderful https://bit.ly/3bYrfVn
and the last image has those contrasting bricks and breeze blocks together with a mysterious garden beyond the gate.
Like cool jazz …Nice!
Lee says
Yeah, that (former) rice vending machine has a lot going for it. And a very suitable soundtrack now as well!
Totally agree about the last one too. Walked past many times recently due to being restricted to local environs, and I can’t work out whether the property is abandoned or not. Peeked into that mysterious garden, and it only becomes more mysterious as I daren’t venture in…
john says
The soundtrack and its imagery was inspired of course by the penultimate ‘human’ bins (pronounced ‘beans’ by a friend of mine).
Future haikyo maybe!
Lee says
That was my thought the moment I saw it. Maybe even a current haikyo. Hence my clandestine peeks into the mysterious garden!