September 18, 2024 • 30 mins
Welcome to the follow-up! We recommend listening to the previous episode for a full context.
This time, we dive into Mr. Kondo's marriage to virtual character Hatsune Miku, exploring themes like fictosexual and objectophilia. Plus, hear about a woman who fell in love with a train station.
We also revisit Godzilla’s status as a Japanese citizen. Does it have a job or pay taxes?
Lastly, discover Japan’s unique vending machines, offering everything from fresh bananas to bug snacks—showcasing a blend of convenience and culture.
Thanks for listening! Don't forget to review SisterVibes and subscribe so you won't miss our upcoming episodes.
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Website: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2279605
Big shoutout to Allison Gray for generously granting us permission to feature her song, "Off My Mind" (from Ep 05).
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Three sisters in three continents three realities
and three perspectives.
I'm KO.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm Tomomi and I'm Sumi.
We all moved to Ohio from Japanfor our dad's job, but as
adults we all live in differentcountries.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Welcome to Sister Vibes.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Out of my system.
I gotta get you off of my mind.
But how do I move on when noone compares?
They only keep me occupied.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
From the last episode .
We talked about some of thequirky things of Japan and we
had too many questions as wewere listing them out, so we
figured we can maybe go throughthe list again and talk about it
a little bit in depth.
For example, we discussed lasttime about this gentleman who
(01:01):
got married to a virtualcharacter named Hatsune Miku.
There were a lot of things thatwe couldn't answer, so we did a
little bit of research.
Here are the few things that wefound out about this whole
marriage thing.
So he, as in, let's say, hisname is K, his last name is
Kondo, so we'll just call him MrK.
So Mr K saw her for the firsttime on TV While he was having a
(01:26):
hard time in his life I guesshe was taking some time off of
work because he was beingbullied there.
He fell in love with her seeingher on TV.
Although he's never had arelationship in his life, he
decided that he wanted to have arelationship.
He just got attracted to thischaracter, so he ended up
(01:48):
getting married back in 2018,november.
The way that he communicatedwith this character was that a
startup company in tokyo createdhologram of hatsune miku.
He purchased, which came in acylinder cylinder, what cylinder
container?
Yeah, it arrived at his house,I guess.
(02:09):
So the way that he communicatedwith her, he was able to.
Then she was able to say likepre-programmed phrases such as
like hello or how's it going, orit sounds like he was able to
do basic conversations orcommunication with it wait, wait
, wait, wait.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Do you mean like a canister?
Yeah, so he didn't see the her.
Yeah, inside it it's just avoice, a hologram inside the
cancer.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, yeah, the hologram.
I'm sure it changes the bodyform and such you can see her
visually.
That was his way of having arelationship with her in that
way, so he conversed with her.
He then asked her if she wouldmarry him to this character, and
she said yes, please take agood care of me are we sure she
said yes, yes, it was mutual yes, it was mutual.
(02:57):
Then he got married, like I said, back in 2018.
The reactions from people weremixed.
I think a lot of his closefriends were in attendance.
He just had the ceremonybecause it's not legal to get
married to a virtual characterin japan, just like I don't know
if there's anywhere in theworld that allows for that.
So he went through some serviceto get married.
(03:19):
Um had a ceremony with thisdoll, basically, and his family
did not attend because they wereopposed to it.
His parents, his sister, werenot in attendance, but
apparently two politiciansattended, which is interesting.
Yeah, maybe out of curiosity,don't know he ended up
(03:40):
purchasing many of theseminiature-sized stuffed Hatsune
Miku figurines.
There's also a human sizeversion that apparently he takes
around out to drive with her,go walk in the park with her,
but obviously, because she is adoll, she sits in a wheelchair
and he pushes her around.
(04:01):
And she can be purchased byother men I also read somewhere
that that there are other menwho have gotten married to her
because, again, she's availableto anyone, because she's virtual
, so it's very interesting she'snot in a very committed
relationship apparently not, notjust with one person, but I
wonder if that you know resolvedhis bullying issues or did it
(04:22):
intensify?
I think at work a lot of peoplewere very disappointed that he
was out in the media talkingabout it.
I don't know why they were soupset, because who cares?
It's none of anyone else'sbusiness.
It's great that he did that,but I'm sure he had a difficult
time, because I think he was thefirst one who basically came
out and said that I'm married toa virtual character.
(04:42):
So he takes her around in awheelchair.
They go to a restauranttogether.
He sits across from her, heconverses with her.
She's not going to conversebecause it's a live doll, it's
not like a robot.
And at some point in 2022,.
I also read that he can nolonger have conversations that
he had with this hologramversion of Hatsune Miku because
(05:06):
the company that develops theservice terminated it.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
They discontinued his wife.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Saying that the limited production model would
run its course.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
So do they have to get divorced at that point?
Speaker 1 (05:19):
No, no, no, he's still married to the character.
I mean, he has differentversions.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
She's inactive.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
She's inactive, hologram wise, virtually, yeah,
but yeah he has, you knowhuman-sized doll and he has
miniature versions of her at hishouse that he seems to carry
around, depending on you knowwhat he's doing.
Of course he says good morning,has breakfast with her.
So he's just like conversing,like he's conversing to anyone,
(05:45):
it's just that he's not gettingany response from her.
It is a little bit wellapparently there's a term called
a fictional sexual for peoplewho are attracted to fictional
characters.
Isn't that interesting?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
though yep, and then when I looked into it, there's a
word called objectophilia, andsome people are truly they fall
in love with objects.
And I can't find the articlenow, but it was talking about
some woman, 45 year old woman,that married a train station.
(06:19):
Her name is Carol Santa Fe.
Okay, back in 2017.
Think, no, 2007, was it?
This was in the us and that'swhen the word in the us
apparently so that's when theword became official
objectophilia people that arefalling in love with objects.
I wonder if they had thewedding at the train station.
I wonder if they officiated.
(06:42):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I don't know.
I mean, that cannot be legalmarriage either.
Right, I've read a year or twoago about this lady marrying
herself Like she had a ceremonywith a wedding dress.
Actually, I've heard about thattoo Recently, like in the last
couple of months, that shedivorced herself.
(07:02):
Whatever that means what.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
What happened there?
Did she have a I don't herself?
Whatever that means, what, whathappened there?
Did she have?
I don't know what that meansthough, but it's so interesting
just I can't stand myselfanymore.
Maybe she fell in love withsomeone, yeah else possibly, and
so she had to divorce herself Iguess maybe somebody with
multiple personalities.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah I feel like I can kind of see like how people
are like.
Oh, I'm kind of attracted toanime or this fictional
character you have objectophiliain you, or what is that?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
what was the word you said?
Speaker 1 (07:36):
uh that fictional sexual like sexual sexual yeah,
because you know, some artistsdo a really good job drawing
these, with which character?
You know I used to like songoku, for example.
I was not uber attracted, butyou know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Like I liked it I mean, I liked um curry bun man,
it's not like I wanted to befrom like a toddler show that's
literally a character of a currybread yeah, like a bun, curry
bun with a curry filling inside.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yeah, which was a very, which still is right, a
very popular he was my favoritetoo, actually out of the yeah,
he was heroic character too andhe was fun, right, and he would
most fun.
Squirt out a curry from hismouth to the enemies, yeah hot
curry attack so this lady thatgot married to the train station
(08:33):
, like I mean, that's not evenan object, it's a place.
I don't think it's a, do you?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
know anything I don't know.
Stop asking questions so wedon't have to do a follow-up no,
I'm just wondering, like likewhat the building?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
it's like an architectural building, so it's
like an yeah right so apparentlythe word objectophilia became
official after her.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
It apparently it's the desire to have a romantic
relationship with an object, soit can be cars and, like I said,
um, apparently there were showsin the past about people with
objectophilia.
They, some people, would lovetheir cars on a romantic level,
or they love just any objects.
(09:18):
So I think this woman marriedthe train station.
I don't know, I don't know whatpart of the train station she
loved if there is a part or ifthere's.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
I mean, there are a lot of train stations, so it's
one specific train station, I'massuming I'm assuming maybe the
color of the.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Yeah, what was she so ?
Attracted to the, the actuallocation, railroad I don't know,
maybe like just a certaindistance from here to here.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
She liked she wanted to marry.
I don't know so thousands ofpeople walk over her husband
every day right true?
Speaker 2 (09:55):
oh my gosh should we talk about godzilla then?
Yes, we had some questionsabout godzilla.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
We were also super confused.
The topic was that the Godzillais a citizen of Japan
officially since 2015, but wehad too many questions like does
it have a job, does it have apassport?
So, sumi, what did you find?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
yes, so we did a little bit of research about
Godzilla and we found out outthat it is currently 69 years
old.
It was born on April 9 1954, sohe's an Aries mm-hmm it's like
our dad's age, by the way ohyeah, I miss name me as a total
(10:37):
son and he lives in Shinjukumm-hmm, and in tokyo, right yeah
in tokyo.
That's one of the busiestplaces in tokyo and he has a job
because he apparently has topay for taxes, because he has
citizenship so and he works atthis place called welcome center
(11:02):
, and he works as a tourismambassador so.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I don't know how he does that, but she, he, but we
don't know for sure.
He's a male.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
So it's pronoun is a true it.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
That's true.
Sorry about that.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
It and did we talk about the what Godzilla actually
?
So we looked into that too whatGodzilla?
Speaker 3 (11:24):
actually is.
So we looked into that too, andapparently it is a
prehistorical reptile or adinosaur monster.
And were you about to saysomething I was going to?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
say, the name Gojira derives from a Japanese term.
It's a combination of gorilla,gorilla, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
And Goujira, which means whale in Japanese.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
So then when you combine those, then it becomes
gosumi Godzilla.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Yeah, so in Japan we say gojira, gorilla is gorilla,
kujira is whale, and thencombined gojira.
Should we say it one more time?
Speaker 1 (12:05):
One more time.
Yeah, no, I'm just just kidding.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
It's very iconic in japan and I feel like it keeps
yeah, it keeps coming out withmovies too I think they came out
with a new version in 2016,okay but isn't it true, though,
that there are several films,right?
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I've never actually sat down and watched it before
there are.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
I think I've seen all of them really, I think, except
for the original.
Yeah, I've never seen theoriginal, I don't think.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I've only seen clips of the original and I feel like
the latest one is it produced injapan or is it in the us?
Do you know?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I feel like it's like more westernized now right yeah
, I think it's a westernized nowRight, yeah, I feel like it was
in the US.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
So that's interesting .
I think that's pretty much allwe can think of from the episode
that we talked about from lasttime.
We encourage you to listen toit, just because we have other
things that we discussed that wethought were interesting
Additionally, Tomomi you want totalk about the Some unique
vending machines.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Unusual and unique vending machines.
Unusual and unique vendingmachines yeah that exists in
tokyo, and I don't know if it'sjust tokyo or elsewhere in japan
too, but one of them says freshbananas, fresh bananas vending
machine.
Yes, fresh bananas, becausethey want to be able to provide
healthy snacks.
Have you seen that samia aroundfresh bananas nope vending
(13:31):
machines?
No, have you heard of it wouldyou buy it, I mean, but like so
is it refrigerated?
Speaker 3 (13:35):
I've never heard of it, or is it not?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
refrigerated I would think so, yeah, but the vending
machines are refrigeratedusually bananas don't need to be
refrigerated, but then would it?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
would it be good if it was sitting in the hot sun?
Speaker 3 (13:45):
no, I think it would go.
Bad weather in japan during thesummer.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Yeah, I feel like it's refrigerated and then
apparently there's bug snackvending machine snacks for bugs,
yeah, like sealed and yeah butwhat kind of bugs I don't know.
I mean like see like bug, seelike bug candies, like cricket
energy bar.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Ok, so it's not for bugs, it's for it's like people.
Yeah, it's for people, it's notfor bugs, right, right, it's
for people.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Ok, there's rhino beetle, like it's showing
pictures, but it has like a manholding a bug, like literally a
regular bug.
I'm sure it's coated with sugar, I don't know, or spice, oh my
God.
Yeah, in the US Right.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Candy lollipop With insects in it.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Oh my gosh, yes, I remember Scorpion and stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yes, scorpion and crickets and things like that.
It's a vending machine version,I guess.
There things like that.
Uh, it's a vending machineversion, I guess.
Um, there's also soup stock youcan buy.
So apparently fish likeliterally fish is inside the
bottles that you can purchase.
It's already good to go, youcan make soup or whatever you
(15:01):
want, but apparently there'sfish inside these bottles that
you can see.
You know that's weird.
And of course, alcohol.
I think we may have talkedabout this before, but this is
not just in tokyo, that that'severywhere.
But you can't check your id.
So that's what I was wondering.
I was curious about thatbecause there is right, you have
to be 20 in japan to drink andthey don't have to check.
(15:24):
So I mean, do they even card injapan when you buy alcohol?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
well, if you, when you buy um alcohol in
convenience stores, if you lookyoung, they'll ask for your id.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Okay, but remember we used to go buy beer, for what
does that like?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
or in the vent, the vending machine or cigarettes
yeah, I know that one, you can,can't, unless they've updated it
.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
But this was when we were little, like when we were
in elementary school.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
So it's still like that, right, simi, it's still
accessible.
They have like beer, they have.
What kind?
Is it just beer?
I think I've only seen beerthey might have like shochu.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I think they have beer and sawa.
Okay, like cocktails.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Like hard seltzers or cocktails.
Okay, also have vending machinewater from different parts of
Japan so different, like in onevending machine so you can get
it from this region or if youwant water from this region, in
one vending machine.
That is interesting.
(16:26):
That is interesting.
That is interesting if you arevery picky about the taste of
water from from where you drinkit.
So this is not the actualproduct of a vending machine
that's unique, but it's a Ianime girl that helps you choose
a drink.
If you're very indecisive anddon't know how to choose it,
it's built in the machine.
(16:47):
I guess I don't know what kindof questions they ask.
It's this particular one I'mreading about.
The AI's name is Sakura-sanUh-huh Cherry blossom.
She's multilingual concierge.
Her program includes a stationguide, train connection info.
Oh, so it has nothing to dowith your drinks in the vending
(17:11):
machine, but it's just if youare traveling.
But it's on a vending machinewith drinks.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Okay, okay, so it's separate.
It doesn't help you with drinks, but it helps you with
navigation.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Right, it says includes a station guide, train
connection information, and shecan even answer questions via
voice commands she also usesfacial recognitions to recommend
a drink based on your.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Yeah, that's what I was gonna say.
Yeah, they used to have.
I don't know if they still haveit, but yeah, yeah but wait
what?
Speaker 2 (17:43):
are you gonna say people look old?
You know facial recognition.
To recommend a drink.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
They'll scan your face and maybe, if you look
tired, they'll recommendsomething that's filled with
vitamins.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
So if you're much older, then they recommend you
what?
Maybe green tea?
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Or something with collagen Maybe, and if you're a
little kid, they probablyrecommend juice or something
like that.
You.
And if you're like a little kid, they probably wouldn't.
They would probably recommendjuice or something like that.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
You look stressed Drink this beer.
Wow, that's interesting.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Yeah, they used to have that.
I don't know if they still haveit, so you've seen it before.
They used to be in a lot of thetrain stations.
That's what it says.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
It says they're found inside major JR stations like
Shinjuku, tokyo and Akihabara.
Wow Okay, this is reallybizarre Shirts and spices
machine like together.
So if you are feeling like, Ineed a t-shirt.
Then you just press a t-shirtbutton, yeah, and then from the
(18:45):
same vendingending machine youcan also buy spice.
What kind of spice?
Speaker 3 (18:49):
uh, shibuya original spices I wonder if the t-shirt
is to promote that spice.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Oh, yeah, is it?
It looks like.
Um.
No, it's promoting shibuya.
It says shibuya on the t-shirt,but the spices are from, I
think, shibuya as well.
Okay, um, that's the onlycommon ground.
But why t-shirt and spices?
Speaker 1 (19:13):
that's so strange so these must be the one that
you're reading off of.
I mean, some of them must bejust like one-off, like one of a
kind right, like especiallyunique.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
It says unique vending machines.
But I mean, why don't they selllike T-shirts and shorts or
T-shirts and socks?
That makes more sense.
T-shirts and spices, I thinkthey may have socks Really Well,
I noticed that in the US atairports there are vending
machines that are more essentialitems.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
You know like travel electronics and stuff.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Or even travel items.
Um, yeah, I have seen, I guess.
Okay, I mean other ones.
Homemade burgers I feel likehot, freshly made bowls are
starting to become popular inthe us as a vending machine too.
I mean this one's a burger,it's saying and other fancy meat
sandwiches.
Apparently they have capsuletoys, is what they refer it as,
(20:11):
but more vending machine version.
Um, it has like a capsule toysinside.
Yeah, there's mystery prizevending machines.
Apparently this one is theinfamous king's treasure box
machine, is what it says, andit's very recognizable.
I guess it's all shiny and goldand frame.
(20:31):
Have you seen it?
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Sumi, apparently this one is a mystery one.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Like you don't know what you're getting.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Oh yeah, I've seen something like that yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Is it a toy or what is it?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
It says you don't know what you're getting, but it
could be from a lighter to agaming console.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, wow, and you pay, say
1,000 yen.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
It's expensive yeah it says don't expect too much
from these.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
That's what it says these vending machines.
I mean lighter doesn't costthat much, it's like 10
bucks-ish.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Yeah, but if you get a gaming console, then I mean
that's cool, but you may be alot more disappointed, right?
Um, they also have hunkle sealvending machines.
Hunkle is a stamp, but verysignature stamps that actually
might be convenientindividualized to you yeah in
japan people don't sign with apen.
You have a specific signaturestamp that's assigned to you uh,
of your choice, I.
I guess that's what they useeverywhere they go it has your
(21:36):
surname on it, so yeah, yeah, soyou have to carry that around.
If you are needing to signdocuments because you're not
actually signing with a pen, youhave to to use a hunkle, a
stamp.
But they do have, I guess,vending machines for it.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
But is it pre-made?
Because when you actuallypurchase at the store, it's
pre-made Okay.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Apparently, they make their own signature seal in
just 10 minutes, as little as500 yen, so this may be good.
Yeah, it might be convenient forsome people who are like you
know working and want to I wouldassume you type in your names
somewhere on the vending machineand then it shows options of
different design stamp cases andstuff that you can purchase at
(22:18):
the vending machine.
Yeah, because otherwise youhave to go to a store and get
that made right yeah, or youjust buy it yeah, if you're
right at the store maybe right.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
If your surname's you know pretty common, then they
probably have it already thenthis one is strange bee larvae
vending machines.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Uh, what is it for?
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I'm not sure what's a bee larvae?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
like before it becomes a bee.
Is it larva?
Yeah, plural version.
Okay, the real start of thisvending machine is a can of
hachinoko bee larvae.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
That goes for a whopping 2300 yen so when the
bee egg hatches it becomes larva.
And larvae is legless,featureless white grub.
It is specialized to eat andnever leaves individual wax cell
.
So why would people buy?
Speaker 2 (23:14):
that I'm reading this , but yeah, I'm not sure if it
explains why they sell that.
Is it healthy?
I mean, I guess it's protein.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
You, could eat meat.
They have cake in a can vendingmachines.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Right Right Close to okay, sky tree but I think it
was not cheap, it was quite, itwasn't expensive.
But yeah, I think it was likemaybe 700 yen and it was in a
can too that I think it lookedlike a soda can, almost, where
you can pull off the top.
Have you had it before?
Speaker 2 (23:46):
no, so I don't.
It doesn't explain in thisarticle why they sell.
And then it says you can alsofind grasshopper vending
machines too.
It seems like for consumption.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I don't know why well , it is protein, like it's more
sustainable, I guess, thaneating animals.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I mean it's just like the earlier, the bug bug snack
vending machine.
Maybe it's along that line.
I don't know some people whoare craving bee larvae or
grasshoppers.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Apparently there's also rare milk vending machines,
bottled milk from all overjapan, just like the water like
they, no, no, I think that itmeans like they have lemon
flavored milk, strawberryflavored milk, yeah, it says.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
And then also you'll find milk cartons and milk based
beverages that you won't findanywhere else.
In Tokyo, popular drinksinclude vanilla flavored milk
from Kumamoto, lemon flavored.
That just sounds like sour milk.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Yeah, it's not.
Well, I don't really like it.
I've had it before.
It's from tochigi prefecture.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
They sell lemon milk, kauri, since you like to cook,
don't you add lemon to, or somesort of acid to, milk to make
buttermilk, buttermilk right soit's like drinking buttermilk
that's true, by the way of sour.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Yesterday I was trying to make chili right.
Prepping the meat, I threw inspices and then I got a can of
red kidney beans, so I threwthat in there and then, as I
dumped most of the contentinside and I was trying to rinse
it out, the rest of them outand strain them to put the rest
(25:34):
in it, I realized it smelledkind of funky and I was like it
smells weird.
So then I like smelled it againbecause there were some at the
bottom of the can.
It smelled sour.
This isn't, this is weird.
So then I looked at the date.
It said 2027.
So then I, after I like put thewater in, I strained it, I took
one and I ate it.
It was bad, I know, and I wasso mad because you said it was
(25:58):
from a.
Can yes, and I said it was itwould expire in 2027 no, it
wasn't open anywhere, likenowhere.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Nowhere, it wasn't cracked, nope nothing, ew,
that's.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
I was pretty mad because I was like what am I I
going to make now, because Ithrew most of them inside.
I tried to take them out but itwas just too much to take out
and couldn't do it.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Yeah, sorry about that.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
So there's other vending machines, including a
variety, a wide variety ofcanned foods such as oden,
odenkan which is what would belike hot pot with goods with
like fish, cakes, eggs and suchit's really good, but in a can
(26:47):
in a vending machine?
Speaker 2 (26:48):
I've never heard of that.
In a can that you can buy atthe vending machine too.
I guess they do havei in a canthat you can buy at the vending
machine too.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Oh, I guess they do have sausages in a can here too,
so oh my gosh vending machine.
Not in the vending machine, butyakitori is a chicken skewers
yeah, usually.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
So I'm trying to picture it in a can like that's
interesting.
Yeah, like it's showing a smallcan, is it frozen size?
It doesn't say it's frozen likethis big, like hand hand size.
What do you think you wouldwant in a vending machine?
Speaker 1 (27:23):
that's a very good question you haven't seen.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
I would love to see like sewing stuff, like, if I
like, accessories, zippers,zipper poles yeah, needles
thread.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
I mean, I guess that might be convenient, like if
you're out walking, yeah, likeif you're like, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Like, you lose your button, which is rare.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Yeah, it's never going to be used and never going
to.
Who's going to stock that right?
Speaker 1 (27:49):
I would say like bento box or something.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Food.
Isn't there already?
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Probably in Japan Bento box vending machine Like
some type of pre-made food.
That's delicious.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
But they're so easy to get at convenience stores,
yeah well we can't get it here,that's true.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
And convenience store foods in Japan are so good, oh
my gosh, compared to here I readthat maybe it was again a few
months ago that they're bringingjapanese convenience store to
america like 7-eleven oh yeah, Iread that too somewhere did you
yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
So what do you mean?
Like food?
Speaker 3 (28:27):
well, it looks like, I think, food wise, because we
have 7-eleven in the us, I thinklike food-wise, like bento, but
the ingredients, of course, aregoing to be from the us and not
japan, so they're saying thatit probably have different
flavors to them.
Um, a vending machine thatsells poop bags for your pet for
your dogs, oh well, yeah,that's not a bad idea I mean, if
(28:50):
don't, if you forget to takethem with you when you go out
for a walk?
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Yeah, I guess here in the parks you can find them.
Like they're free you can take.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
They're free.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
We do have them too, where there's like like a parks
and stuff when you're walkingyour dog.
But sometimes they're out, therolls are out and you could.
Maybe it doesn't have to be ahuge vending machine, but maybe
like even a small one wherepeople can just buy if they need
it.
Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Because they don't sell.
They don't pass those out forfree in Japan, or at least not.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Oh yeah, true, because you have to pay even for
plastic bags in Japan atgrocery stores, I wouldn't even
mind, like pencils and pens,because I always forget.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Or umbrellas oh, umbrella might be a good idea,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Thanks for joining us today.
Don't forget to review SisterVibes and make sure to subscribe
on the app of your choice soyou don't miss our upcoming
episodes.
Until next time, John it Johnit Bye.
Three sisters in three continents three realities
and three perspectives.
I'm KO.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
I'm Tomomi and I'm Sumi.
We all moved to Ohio from Japanfor our dad's job, but as
adults we all live in differentcountries.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Welcome to Sister Vibes.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Out of my system.
I gotta get you off of my mind.
But how do I move on when noone compares?
They only keep me occupied.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
From the last episode .
We talked about some of thequirky things of Japan and we
had too many questions as wewere listing them out, so we
figured we can maybe go throughthe list again and talk about it
a little bit in depth.
For example, we discussed lasttime about this gentleman who
(01:01):
got married to a virtualcharacter named Hatsune Miku.
There were a lot of things thatwe couldn't answer, so we did a
little bit of research.
Here are the few things that wefound out about this whole
marriage thing.
So he, as in, let's say, hisname is K, his last name is
Kondo, so we'll just call him MrK.
So Mr K saw her for the firsttime on TV While he was having a
(01:26):
hard time in his life I guesshe was taking some time off of
work because he was beingbullied there.
He fell in love with her seeingher on TV.
Although he's never had arelationship in his life, he
decided that he wanted to have arelationship.
He just got attracted to thischaracter, so he ended up
(01:48):
getting married back in 2018,november.
The way that he communicatedwith this character was that a
startup company in tokyo createdhologram of hatsune miku.
He purchased, which came in acylinder cylinder, what cylinder
container?
Yeah, it arrived at his house,I guess.
(02:09):
So the way that he communicatedwith her, he was able to.
Then she was able to say likepre-programmed phrases such as
like hello or how's it going, orit sounds like he was able to
do basic conversations orcommunication with it wait, wait
, wait, wait.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Do you mean like a canister?
Yeah, so he didn't see the her.
Yeah, inside it it's just avoice, a hologram inside the
cancer.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
Yeah, yeah, the hologram.
I'm sure it changes the bodyform and such you can see her
visually.
That was his way of having arelationship with her in that
way, so he conversed with her.
He then asked her if she wouldmarry him to this character, and
she said yes, please take agood care of me are we sure she
said yes, yes, it was mutual yes, it was mutual.
(02:57):
Then he got married, like I said, back in 2018.
The reactions from people weremixed.
I think a lot of his closefriends were in attendance.
He just had the ceremonybecause it's not legal to get
married to a virtual characterin japan, just like I don't know
if there's anywhere in theworld that allows for that.
So he went through some serviceto get married.
(03:19):
Um had a ceremony with thisdoll, basically, and his family
did not attend because they wereopposed to it.
His parents, his sister, werenot in attendance, but
apparently two politiciansattended, which is interesting.
Yeah, maybe out of curiosity,don't know he ended up
(03:40):
purchasing many of theseminiature-sized stuffed Hatsune
Miku figurines.
There's also a human sizeversion that apparently he takes
around out to drive with her,go walk in the park with her,
but obviously, because she is adoll, she sits in a wheelchair
and he pushes her around.
(04:01):
And she can be purchased byother men I also read somewhere
that that there are other menwho have gotten married to her
because, again, she's availableto anyone, because she's virtual
, so it's very interesting she'snot in a very committed
relationship apparently not, notjust with one person, but I
wonder if that you know resolvedhis bullying issues or did it
(04:22):
intensify?
I think at work a lot of peoplewere very disappointed that he
was out in the media talkingabout it.
I don't know why they were soupset, because who cares?
It's none of anyone else'sbusiness.
It's great that he did that,but I'm sure he had a difficult
time, because I think he was thefirst one who basically came
out and said that I'm married toa virtual character.
(04:42):
So he takes her around in awheelchair.
They go to a restauranttogether.
He sits across from her, heconverses with her.
She's not going to conversebecause it's a live doll, it's
not like a robot.
And at some point in 2022,.
I also read that he can nolonger have conversations that
he had with this hologramversion of Hatsune Miku because
(05:06):
the company that develops theservice terminated it.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
They discontinued his wife.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Saying that the limited production model would
run its course.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
So do they have to get divorced at that point?
Speaker 1 (05:19):
No, no, no, he's still married to the character.
I mean, he has differentversions.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
She's inactive.
Speaker 1 (05:24):
She's inactive, hologram wise, virtually, yeah,
but yeah he has, you knowhuman-sized doll and he has
miniature versions of her at hishouse that he seems to carry
around, depending on you knowwhat he's doing.
Of course he says good morning,has breakfast with her.
So he's just like conversing,like he's conversing to anyone,
(05:45):
it's just that he's not gettingany response from her.
It is a little bit wellapparently there's a term called
a fictional sexual for peoplewho are attracted to fictional
characters.
Isn't that interesting?
Speaker 2 (05:58):
though yep, and then when I looked into it, there's a
word called objectophilia, andsome people are truly they fall
in love with objects.
And I can't find the articlenow, but it was talking about
some woman, 45 year old woman,that married a train station.
(06:19):
Her name is Carol Santa Fe.
Okay, back in 2017.
Think, no, 2007, was it?
This was in the us and that'swhen the word in the us
apparently so that's when theword became official
objectophilia people that arefalling in love with objects.
I wonder if they had thewedding at the train station.
I wonder if they officiated.
(06:42):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 1 (06:42):
I don't know.
I mean, that cannot be legalmarriage either.
Right, I've read a year or twoago about this lady marrying
herself Like she had a ceremonywith a wedding dress.
Actually, I've heard about thattoo Recently, like in the last
couple of months, that shedivorced herself.
(07:02):
Whatever that means what.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
What happened there?
Did she have a I don't herself?
Whatever that means, what, whathappened there?
Did she have?
I don't know what that meansthough, but it's so interesting
just I can't stand myselfanymore.
Maybe she fell in love withsomeone, yeah else possibly, and
so she had to divorce herself Iguess maybe somebody with
multiple personalities.
Speaker 1 (07:25):
Yeah I feel like I can kind of see like how people
are like.
Oh, I'm kind of attracted toanime or this fictional
character you have objectophiliain you, or what is that?
Speaker 2 (07:35):
what was the word you said?
Speaker 1 (07:36):
uh that fictional sexual like sexual sexual yeah,
because you know, some artistsdo a really good job drawing
these, with which character?
You know I used to like songoku, for example.
I was not uber attracted, butyou know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Like I liked it I mean, I liked um curry bun man,
it's not like I wanted to befrom like a toddler show that's
literally a character of a currybread yeah, like a bun, curry
bun with a curry filling inside.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yeah, which was a very, which still is right, a
very popular he was my favoritetoo, actually out of the yeah,
he was heroic character too andhe was fun, right, and he would
most fun.
Squirt out a curry from hismouth to the enemies, yeah hot
curry attack so this lady thatgot married to the train station
(08:33):
, like I mean, that's not evenan object, it's a place.
I don't think it's a, do you?
Speaker 2 (08:36):
know anything I don't know.
Stop asking questions so wedon't have to do a follow-up no,
I'm just wondering, like likewhat the building?
Speaker 3 (08:45):
it's like an architectural building, so it's
like an yeah right so apparentlythe word objectophilia became
official after her.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
It apparently it's the desire to have a romantic
relationship with an object, soit can be cars and, like I said,
um, apparently there were showsin the past about people with
objectophilia.
They, some people, would lovetheir cars on a romantic level,
or they love just any objects.
(09:18):
So I think this woman marriedthe train station.
I don't know, I don't know whatpart of the train station she
loved if there is a part or ifthere's.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
I mean, there are a lot of train stations, so it's
one specific train station, I'massuming I'm assuming maybe the
color of the.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Yeah, what was she so ?
Attracted to the, the actuallocation, railroad I don't know,
maybe like just a certaindistance from here to here.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
She liked she wanted to marry.
I don't know so thousands ofpeople walk over her husband
every day right true?
Speaker 2 (09:55):
oh my gosh should we talk about godzilla then?
Yes, we had some questionsabout godzilla.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
We were also super confused.
The topic was that the Godzillais a citizen of Japan
officially since 2015, but wehad too many questions like does
it have a job, does it have apassport?
So, sumi, what did you find?
Speaker 3 (10:14):
yes, so we did a little bit of research about
Godzilla and we found out outthat it is currently 69 years
old.
It was born on April 9 1954, sohe's an Aries mm-hmm it's like
our dad's age, by the way ohyeah, I miss name me as a total
(10:37):
son and he lives in Shinjukumm-hmm, and in tokyo, right yeah
in tokyo.
That's one of the busiestplaces in tokyo and he has a job
because he apparently has topay for taxes, because he has
citizenship so and he works atthis place called welcome center
(11:02):
, and he works as a tourismambassador so.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
I don't know how he does that, but she, he, but we
don't know for sure.
He's a male.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Right.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
So it's pronoun is a true it.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
That's true.
Sorry about that.
Speaker 1 (11:19):
It and did we talk about the what Godzilla actually
?
So we looked into that too whatGodzilla?
Speaker 3 (11:24):
actually is.
So we looked into that too, andapparently it is a
prehistorical reptile or adinosaur monster.
And were you about to saysomething I was going to?
Speaker 1 (11:36):
say, the name Gojira derives from a Japanese term.
It's a combination of gorilla,gorilla, yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
And Goujira, which means whale in Japanese.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
So then when you combine those, then it becomes
gosumi Godzilla.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
Yeah, so in Japan we say gojira, gorilla is gorilla,
kujira is whale, and thencombined gojira.
Should we say it one more time?
Speaker 1 (12:05):
One more time.
Yeah, no, I'm just just kidding.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
It's very iconic in japan and I feel like it keeps
yeah, it keeps coming out withmovies too I think they came out
with a new version in 2016,okay but isn't it true, though,
that there are several films,right?
Speaker 1 (12:20):
I've never actually sat down and watched it before
there are.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
I think I've seen all of them really, I think, except
for the original.
Yeah, I've never seen theoriginal, I don't think.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
I've only seen clips of the original and I feel like
the latest one is it produced injapan or is it in the us?
Do you know?
Speaker 3 (12:42):
I feel like it's like more westernized now right yeah
, I think it's a westernized nowRight, yeah, I feel like it was
in the US.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
So that's interesting .
I think that's pretty much allwe can think of from the episode
that we talked about from lasttime.
We encourage you to listen toit, just because we have other
things that we discussed that wethought were interesting
Additionally, Tomomi you want totalk about the Some unique
vending machines.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Unusual and unique vending machines.
Unusual and unique vendingmachines yeah that exists in
tokyo, and I don't know if it'sjust tokyo or elsewhere in japan
too, but one of them says freshbananas, fresh bananas vending
machine.
Yes, fresh bananas, becausethey want to be able to provide
healthy snacks.
Have you seen that samia aroundfresh bananas nope vending
(13:31):
machines?
No, have you heard of it wouldyou buy it, I mean, but like so
is it refrigerated?
Speaker 3 (13:35):
I've never heard of it, or is it not?
Speaker 1 (13:36):
refrigerated I would think so, yeah, but the vending
machines are refrigeratedusually bananas don't need to be
refrigerated, but then would it?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
would it be good if it was sitting in the hot sun?
Speaker 3 (13:45):
no, I think it would go.
Bad weather in japan during thesummer.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
Yeah, I feel like it's refrigerated and then
apparently there's bug snackvending machine snacks for bugs,
yeah, like sealed and yeah butwhat kind of bugs I don't know.
I mean like see like bug, seelike bug candies, like cricket
energy bar.
Speaker 1 (14:08):
Ok, so it's not for bugs, it's for it's like people.
Yeah, it's for people, it's notfor bugs, right, right, it's
for people.
Speaker 2 (14:16):
Ok, there's rhino beetle, like it's showing
pictures, but it has like a manholding a bug, like literally a
regular bug.
I'm sure it's coated with sugar, I don't know, or spice, oh my
God.
Yeah, in the US Right.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Candy lollipop With insects in it.
Speaker 3 (14:36):
Oh my gosh, yes, I remember Scorpion and stuff.
Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yes, scorpion and crickets and things like that.
It's a vending machine version,I guess.
There things like that.
Uh, it's a vending machineversion, I guess.
Um, there's also soup stock youcan buy.
So apparently fish likeliterally fish is inside the
bottles that you can purchase.
It's already good to go, youcan make soup or whatever you
(15:01):
want, but apparently there'sfish inside these bottles that
you can see.
You know that's weird.
And of course, alcohol.
I think we may have talkedabout this before, but this is
not just in tokyo, that that'severywhere.
But you can't check your id.
So that's what I was wondering.
I was curious about thatbecause there is right, you have
to be 20 in japan to drink andthey don't have to check.
(15:24):
So I mean, do they even card injapan when you buy alcohol?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
well, if you, when you buy um alcohol in
convenience stores, if you lookyoung, they'll ask for your id.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
Okay, but remember we used to go buy beer, for what
does that like?
Speaker 2 (15:40):
or in the vent, the vending machine or cigarettes
yeah, I know that one, you can,can't, unless they've updated it
.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
But this was when we were little, like when we were
in elementary school.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
So it's still like that, right, simi, it's still
accessible.
They have like beer, they have.
What kind?
Is it just beer?
I think I've only seen beerthey might have like shochu.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I think they have beer and sawa.
Okay, like cocktails.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Like hard seltzers or cocktails.
Okay, also have vending machinewater from different parts of
Japan so different, like in onevending machine so you can get
it from this region or if youwant water from this region, in
one vending machine.
That is interesting.
(16:26):
That is interesting.
That is interesting if you arevery picky about the taste of
water from from where you drinkit.
So this is not the actualproduct of a vending machine
that's unique, but it's a Ianime girl that helps you choose
a drink.
If you're very indecisive anddon't know how to choose it,
it's built in the machine.
(16:47):
I guess I don't know what kindof questions they ask.
It's this particular one I'mreading about.
The AI's name is Sakura-sanUh-huh Cherry blossom.
She's multilingual concierge.
Her program includes a stationguide, train connection info.
Oh, so it has nothing to dowith your drinks in the vending
(17:11):
machine, but it's just if youare traveling.
But it's on a vending machinewith drinks.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Okay, okay, so it's separate.
It doesn't help you with drinks, but it helps you with
navigation.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
Right, it says includes a station guide, train
connection information, and shecan even answer questions via
voice commands she also usesfacial recognitions to recommend
a drink based on your.
Speaker 3 (17:37):
Yeah, that's what I was gonna say.
Yeah, they used to have.
I don't know if they still haveit, but yeah, yeah but wait
what?
Speaker 2 (17:43):
are you gonna say people look old?
You know facial recognition.
To recommend a drink.
Speaker 3 (17:49):
They'll scan your face and maybe, if you look
tired, they'll recommendsomething that's filled with
vitamins.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
So if you're much older, then they recommend you
what?
Maybe green tea?
Speaker 3 (18:02):
Or something with collagen Maybe, and if you're a
little kid, they probablyrecommend juice or something
like that.
You.
And if you're like a little kid, they probably wouldn't.
They would probably recommendjuice or something like that.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
You look stressed Drink this beer.
Wow, that's interesting.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
Yeah, they used to have that.
I don't know if they still haveit, so you've seen it before.
They used to be in a lot of thetrain stations.
That's what it says.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
It says they're found inside major JR stations like
Shinjuku, tokyo and Akihabara.
Wow Okay, this is reallybizarre Shirts and spices
machine like together.
So if you are feeling like, Ineed a t-shirt.
Then you just press a t-shirtbutton, yeah, and then from the
(18:45):
same vendingending machine youcan also buy spice.
What kind of spice?
Speaker 3 (18:49):
uh, shibuya original spices I wonder if the t-shirt
is to promote that spice.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
Oh, yeah, is it?
It looks like.
Um.
No, it's promoting shibuya.
It says shibuya on the t-shirt,but the spices are from, I
think, shibuya as well.
Okay, um, that's the onlycommon ground.
But why t-shirt and spices?
Speaker 1 (19:13):
that's so strange so these must be the one that
you're reading off of.
I mean, some of them must bejust like one-off, like one of a
kind right, like especiallyunique.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
It says unique vending machines.
But I mean, why don't they selllike T-shirts and shorts or
T-shirts and socks?
That makes more sense.
T-shirts and spices, I thinkthey may have socks Really Well,
I noticed that in the US atairports there are vending
machines that are more essentialitems.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
You know like travel electronics and stuff.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:47):
Or even travel items.
Um, yeah, I have seen, I guess.
Okay, I mean other ones.
Homemade burgers I feel likehot, freshly made bowls are
starting to become popular inthe us as a vending machine too.
I mean this one's a burger,it's saying and other fancy meat
sandwiches.
Apparently they have capsuletoys, is what they refer it as,
(20:11):
but more vending machine version.
Um, it has like a capsule toysinside.
Yeah, there's mystery prizevending machines.
Apparently this one is theinfamous king's treasure box
machine, is what it says, andit's very recognizable.
I guess it's all shiny and goldand frame.
(20:31):
Have you seen it?
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Sumi, apparently this one is a mystery one.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
Like you don't know what you're getting.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
Oh yeah, I've seen something like that yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:42):
Is it a toy or what is it?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
It says you don't know what you're getting, but it
could be from a lighter to agaming console.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, wow, and you pay, say
1,000 yen.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
It's expensive yeah it says don't expect too much
from these.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
That's what it says these vending machines.
I mean lighter doesn't costthat much, it's like 10
bucks-ish.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
Yeah, but if you get a gaming console, then I mean
that's cool, but you may be alot more disappointed, right?
Um, they also have hunkle sealvending machines.
Hunkle is a stamp, but verysignature stamps that actually
might be convenientindividualized to you yeah in
japan people don't sign with apen.
You have a specific signaturestamp that's assigned to you uh,
of your choice, I.
I guess that's what they useeverywhere they go it has your
(21:36):
surname on it, so yeah, yeah, soyou have to carry that around.
If you are needing to signdocuments because you're not
actually signing with a pen, youhave to to use a hunkle, a
stamp.
But they do have, I guess,vending machines for it.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
But is it pre-made?
Because when you actuallypurchase at the store, it's
pre-made Okay.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Apparently, they make their own signature seal in
just 10 minutes, as little as500 yen, so this may be good.
Yeah, it might be convenient forsome people who are like you
know working and want to I wouldassume you type in your names
somewhere on the vending machineand then it shows options of
different design stamp cases andstuff that you can purchase at
(22:18):
the vending machine.
Yeah, because otherwise youhave to go to a store and get
that made right yeah, or youjust buy it yeah, if you're
right at the store maybe right.
Speaker 3 (22:29):
If your surname's you know pretty common, then they
probably have it already thenthis one is strange bee larvae
vending machines.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
Uh, what is it for?
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I'm not sure what's a bee larvae?
Speaker 2 (22:45):
like before it becomes a bee.
Is it larva?
Yeah, plural version.
Okay, the real start of thisvending machine is a can of
hachinoko bee larvae.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
That goes for a whopping 2300 yen so when the
bee egg hatches it becomes larva.
And larvae is legless,featureless white grub.
It is specialized to eat andnever leaves individual wax cell
.
So why would people buy?
Speaker 2 (23:14):
that I'm reading this , but yeah, I'm not sure if it
explains why they sell that.
Is it healthy?
I mean, I guess it's protein.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
You, could eat meat.
They have cake in a can vendingmachines.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Right Right Close to okay, sky tree but I think it
was not cheap, it was quite, itwasn't expensive.
But yeah, I think it was likemaybe 700 yen and it was in a
can too that I think it lookedlike a soda can, almost, where
you can pull off the top.
Have you had it before?
Speaker 2 (23:46):
no, so I don't.
It doesn't explain in thisarticle why they sell.
And then it says you can alsofind grasshopper vending
machines too.
It seems like for consumption.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
I don't know why well , it is protein, like it's more
sustainable, I guess, thaneating animals.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
I mean it's just like the earlier, the bug bug snack
vending machine.
Maybe it's along that line.
I don't know some people whoare craving bee larvae or
grasshoppers.
Speaker 3 (24:16):
Apparently there's also rare milk vending machines,
bottled milk from all overjapan, just like the water like
they, no, no, I think that itmeans like they have lemon
flavored milk, strawberryflavored milk, yeah, it says.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
And then also you'll find milk cartons and milk based
beverages that you won't findanywhere else.
In Tokyo, popular drinksinclude vanilla flavored milk
from Kumamoto, lemon flavored.
That just sounds like sour milk.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Yeah, it's not.
Well, I don't really like it.
I've had it before.
It's from tochigi prefecture.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
They sell lemon milk, kauri, since you like to cook,
don't you add lemon to, or somesort of acid to, milk to make
buttermilk, buttermilk right soit's like drinking buttermilk
that's true, by the way of sour.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
Yesterday I was trying to make chili right.
Prepping the meat, I threw inspices and then I got a can of
red kidney beans, so I threwthat in there and then, as I
dumped most of the contentinside and I was trying to rinse
it out, the rest of them outand strain them to put the rest
(25:34):
in it, I realized it smelledkind of funky and I was like it
smells weird.
So then I like smelled it againbecause there were some at the
bottom of the can.
It smelled sour.
This isn't, this is weird.
So then I looked at the date.
It said 2027.
So then I, after I like put thewater in, I strained it, I took
one and I ate it.
It was bad, I know, and I wasso mad because you said it was
(25:58):
from a.
Can yes, and I said it was itwould expire in 2027 no, it
wasn't open anywhere, likenowhere.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Nowhere, it wasn't cracked, nope nothing, ew,
that's.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
I was pretty mad because I was like what am I I
going to make now, because Ithrew most of them inside.
I tried to take them out but itwas just too much to take out
and couldn't do it.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Yeah, sorry about that.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
So there's other vending machines, including a
variety, a wide variety ofcanned foods such as oden,
odenkan which is what would belike hot pot with goods with
like fish, cakes, eggs and suchit's really good, but in a can
(26:47):
in a vending machine?
Speaker 2 (26:48):
I've never heard of that.
In a can that you can buy atthe vending machine too.
I guess they do havei in a canthat you can buy at the vending
machine too.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
Oh, I guess they do have sausages in a can here too,
so oh my gosh vending machine.
Not in the vending machine, butyakitori is a chicken skewers
yeah, usually.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
So I'm trying to picture it in a can like that's
interesting.
Yeah, like it's showing a smallcan, is it frozen size?
It doesn't say it's frozen likethis big, like hand hand size.
What do you think you wouldwant in a vending machine?
Speaker 1 (27:23):
that's a very good question you haven't seen.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
I would love to see like sewing stuff, like, if I
like, accessories, zippers,zipper poles yeah, needles
thread.
Speaker 3 (27:34):
I mean, I guess that might be convenient, like if
you're out walking, yeah, likeif you're like, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
Like, you lose your button, which is rare.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
Yeah, it's never going to be used and never going
to.
Who's going to stock that right?
Speaker 1 (27:49):
I would say like bento box or something.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
Food.
Isn't there already?
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Probably in Japan Bento box vending machine Like
some type of pre-made food.
That's delicious.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
But they're so easy to get at convenience stores,
yeah well we can't get it here,that's true.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
And convenience store foods in Japan are so good, oh
my gosh, compared to here I readthat maybe it was again a few
months ago that they're bringingjapanese convenience store to
america like 7-eleven oh yeah, Iread that too somewhere did you
yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
So what do you mean?
Like food?
Speaker 3 (28:27):
well, it looks like, I think, food wise, because we
have 7-eleven in the us, I thinklike food-wise, like bento, but
the ingredients, of course, aregoing to be from the us and not
japan, so they're saying thatit probably have different
flavors to them.
Um, a vending machine thatsells poop bags for your pet for
your dogs, oh well, yeah,that's not a bad idea I mean, if
(28:50):
don't, if you forget to takethem with you when you go out
for a walk?
Speaker 1 (28:55):
Yeah, I guess here in the parks you can find them.
Like they're free you can take.
Speaker 3 (29:00):
They're free.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
We do have them too, where there's like like a parks
and stuff when you're walkingyour dog.
But sometimes they're out, therolls are out and you could.
Maybe it doesn't have to be ahuge vending machine, but maybe
like even a small one wherepeople can just buy if they need
it.
Yeah, that's a good one.
Speaker 3 (29:20):
Because they don't sell.
They don't pass those out forfree in Japan, or at least not.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Oh yeah, true, because you have to pay even for
plastic bags in Japan atgrocery stores, I wouldn't even
mind, like pencils and pens,because I always forget.
Speaker 3 (29:36):
Or umbrellas oh, umbrella might be a good idea,
yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Thanks for joining us today.
Don't forget to review SisterVibes and make sure to subscribe
on the app of your choice soyou don't miss our upcoming
episodes.
Until next time, John it Johnit Bye.
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