Technology and Japan: Vending Machines x ガチャガチャ

Picture from October 5, 2019. Location: Shibuya Station

Toy capsule machines, called ガチャガチャ (gacha-gacha) are incredibly popular in Japan. Often, one can find rows upon rows of the machines filled with various figurines, keychains, and knick knacks. This perhaps represents the "weird" or kawaii side of Japan. 

However, the marriage between the ever-famous vending machines in Japan and the toy capsule machines is certainly unique. Having lived in Japan my entire life, I had never seen something like this before. It operates the same way as any normal vending machine: put in some money, press the button for the item you want, and bang! the item comes crashing down. This fascinating machine reflects the innovative nature of Japanese society. There are many "useless" inventions in Japan, whether it be toilet paper on your head to slippers made to be a dust pan and broom. In fact, there are multiple books on useless Japanese inventions, here is just one of them: 101 Unuseless Japanese Inventions: The Art of Chindogu. 

One could consider this side of Japan to be the "weird" side that is appealed to the world, and that would certainly be a good conclusion. However, I think there is yet another side to this multitude of inventions: the collective Japanese desire to be number one or first.

The wonderful politician Renho showed this when the Japanese government was trying to create a supercomputer. There were delays upon delays because by the time the supercomputer was about ready, there was a better one that already existed. In 2016, Renho, who was the Democratic Party's leader at the time, asked the "outrageous" question: 「2位じゃダメなんですか？」(What's wrong with being number 2?). Evidently, there was a lot wrong with being number two, which actually reflects Japanese society as a whole when it comes to technology. Despite conformity being highly coveted, in the technological sphere, Japan does have a desire to be number one. Being number two simply is not good enough. 

Though that surely is not the only reason behind these strange inventions such as the one pictured, Japan certainly attempts to be "unique"—what better way than to be number one? Where else can one find toilet paper to put on your head or vending machines selling small tree figurines?

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