Author: Editoral Team

Hidden in Ueno, The God Diner isn’t your typical eatery. From the outside, it looks like an oversized, weathered 1990s Japanese drinks vending machine—complete with faded decals, glowing red “SOLD OUT” lights, and a coin slot. But this machine doesn’t dispense Pocari Sweat or Calpis… it opens like a door.

🤖 Why a Vending Machine Door?

The founders—wanted to question modern rituals. In Japan, putting coins into a machine and receiving sustenance is a daily act of faith. The God Diner literalizes that metaphor:

“You feed the god-machine… and it feeds you back.”

It’s both a tribute to Japan’s vending machine culture (with over 4 million machines nationwide) and a gentle satire of automation, spirituality, and consumerism.

The God Diner embodies the same spirit of experimental cultural storytelling through everyday objects—proving that in Tokyo, even a humble vending machine can become a portal to the divine… or at least, a really cool dinner.

Other Vending Machine Applications

Tucked away in the bustling Roppongi district of Tokyo—a city renowned for its love of vending machines—the Swedish Embassy offered something delightfully unexpected: a bright yellow vending machine that didn’t dispense sodas or cigarettes, but Swedish culture.

Launched in 2012 as part of a creative public diplomacy campaign, the “Try Swedish!” vending machine was more than just a novelty—it was a miniature embassy in mechanical form. Designed to introduce Japanese locals and curious tourists to Sweden’s unique blend of flavor, design, and innovation, the machine stood as a playful ambassador of Nordic life on a quiet Tokyo street.

A Tasty Introduction to Sweden:

The vending machine offered a curated selection of authentic Swedish products, carefully chosen to surprise and delight. Among its rotating inventory were:

• Salty licorice (a polarizing favorite among Scandinavians),
• Surströmming-flavored chips (a bold, tongue-in-cheek nod to Sweden’s famously pungent fermented herring),
• Daim chocolate bars,
• Crispbread from Wasa,
• Miniature IKEA pencils and other branded trinkets,
• And even Swedish meatball-scented candles—a whimsical fusion of food and fragrance that captured the campaign’s lighthearted spirit.

Priced affordably—typically between ¥100 and ¥500 (roughly $1–$5 at the time)—each item was a bite-sized or pocket-sized passport to Sweden.

Public Diplomacy with a Sense of Humor

The “Try Swedish!” initiative was spearheaded by the Swedish Embassy in collaboration with Swedish companies and cultural institutions, including the Swedish Trade Council and VisitSweden. It reflected Sweden’s broader soft-power strategy: promoting the nation not through formal lectures, but through approachable, everyday experiences infused with wit and warmth.

“The idea was to make Sweden feel close, fun, and accessible,” explained a former embassy spokesperson. “In a city like Tokyo, where vending machines are part of daily life, we thought: why not use one to tell our story?”

The machine quickly became a social media sensation, drawing long lines of curious passersby and generating international headlines. It even inspired copycat “cultural vending machines” from other embassies, though few matched Sweden’s mix of quirkiness and authenticity.

Public Diplomacy with a Sense of Humor

Though the “Try Swedish!” vending machine is no longer operational—it ran for about a year before being retired—it left a lasting impression. It exemplified how modern diplomacy can thrive outside traditional channels, using design, humor, and everyday objects to build cross-cultural connections.

Today, the machine lives on in photos, news clips, and fond memories of those who once pressed a button and received a tiny taste of Sweden in the heart of Tokyo. It remains a charming reminder that sometimes, the best way to share a culture isn’t with a speech—but with a Surströmming-scented surprise.

Other Vending Machine Applications

Craven Early College High School unveiled a new grab-n-go breakfast vending machine on Monday.

Designed to make nutritious breakfast options more accessible for students, the vending machine was installed in partnership with the Craven County Schools School Nutrition Department.

The unveiling on Monday was a surprise for students, who gathered in the hallway at Craven Early College High School, 801 College Court, in New Bern.

Students can use the vending machine for free by inputing their student identification number.

Kemari Johnson Black was one of the first students who got to use the vending machine.

He said it’s a great step in the community of Craven Early College because some students depend on the meals they receive at school to feed themselves or siblings.

“Fortunately enough, I haven’t had that worry, but I have friends who have that worry,” he said. “I think it’s very heartwarming to see that those very people can now come and get a free, healthy and delicious breakfast every single day.”

Lauren Weyand, school nutrition director for the Craven County Schools School Nutrition Department, said the addition of the vending machine has been a long-awaited project.

Weyand often works with the No Kid Hungry Program, which highlights the importance of breakfast for students.

She recently participated in a No Kid Hungry Breakfast Design Lab, where she discovered innovative ways to serve more students.

“I knew that there was a potential to serve more students at the early college because we don’t have a cafeteria or an ideal way to offer them breakfast,” Weyand said.

Students at Craven Early College receive lunch from H.J. MacDonald Middle School, which is just a mile away from the early college.

To determine if students at Craven Early College need breakfast, a survey is sent out but Weyand said not every student participates in the survey.

Weyand said Craven County Schools offers universal free breakfast for students, so Weyand is excited that the early college students can now receive that same benefit.

“Just today, we just had a few students out for the reveal and already they got breakfast,” Weyand said. “I’m hoping that it does do well.”

Weyand said Craven County Schools repurposed a vending machine from New Bern High School for the grab-n-go breakfast vending machine.

The vending machine was previously intended for use at New Bern High School to help shorten lines in the cafeteria, but it hadn’t been used in almost a year.

“We realized that we can repurpose this vending machine and bring it to a location where we can offer students breakfast,” Weyand said. “There was no cost and we utilized students to design it for us.”

Esther Aye’s artwork was chosen to decorate the vending machine. She created a design, using paint pens, that depicts a breakfast plate with pancakes, bacon eggs and a glass of orange juice.

Aye said she thinks the breakfast vending machine is going to be helpful for many students. Instead of spending money at a fast food restaurant for breakfast in the morning, students can get a meal before class at Craven Early College High School.

Weyand said they plan to monitor activity at the vending machine to determine which breakfast options are most popular.

“When students have a say in what they would like to eat, they’re more likely to participate,” she stated. “Our hope is that since it’s here and with us listening to what they want to see in the vending machine, students will be more likely to take a breakfast.”

Other Vending Machine Applications

Installed in the Burrs Country Park, a special vending machine is dispensing healthy, duck-safe food in biodegradable paper bags for £1 per bag.

90% of the profit will be going towards the initiative’s running costs and the remainder going to the Friends of Burrs Country Park group to help fund events and park maintenance.

The initiative was introduced to discourage visitors from feeding ducks bread, which is harmful to their health and pollutes the waterway.

Bury councillor Alan Quinn said the council was “delighted” to support the scheme, adding: “Don’t let it be said that we duck the big decisions.”

“Everyone likes to feed the ducks and this initiative will help ensure that the birds are getting a healthy diet,” he said.

A sign on the machine states: “Bread makes ducks ill and does not contain the right nutrition or calories that they need to grow or keep warm. Rotting bread pollutes the water and cause nasty surface algae, which kills wildlife and gives ducks diseases.”

Why It Matters:

• Bread is bad for ducks: It lacks nutrition, can cause deformities (like “angel wing”), and contributes to algal blooms when it rots in water.
• Eco-friendly alternative: The machine offers a mix of wild bird seed, oats, and peas—ingredients that are safe and nutritious for waterfowl.
• Educational impact: Signage around the machine explains why bread should be avoided and promotes responsible wildlife interaction, especially for families and children.

A Growing Trend

Burrs Country Park’s duck food vending machine is part of a wider movement across the UK. Similar machines can be found in places like Maidstone (Kent), Harrow (London), and Bristol, often supported by local councils, wildlife trusts, or campaigns like “Ban Bread” by the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT).

Visit Info:

• Location: Burrs Country Park, Bury, Greater Manchester (near the outdoor activity centre and riverside walk).
• Park features: Historic mill ruins, walking trails, picnic areas, and a popular spot for birdwatching.
• Duck species: Mallards, moorhens, coots, and occasionally herons can be seen along the Irwell.

This simple but clever vending machine reflects a growing awareness of urban ecology—and proves that even small innovations can make a big difference for wildlife and the environment. 🌱🦆

So next time you’re at Burrs Country Park, skip the sandwich crusts—and grab some proper duck snacks from the machine!

Other Vending Machine Applications

Redland City Council has rolled out an initiative that provides the community with free, on-demand access to sports equipment in two local parks to encourage increased participation in outdoor play.

The Council has signed an agreement with SportsBox, equipped by Decathlon, to trial the company’s sports equipment lockers at Beth Boyd Park in Thorneside and Raby Esplanade Park in Ormiston until October 2026, at no cost to Council.

The trial allows the community to hire a range of sports equipment such as footballs and basketballs for free from a self-serve locker.

Users can download the SportsBox smartphone app and scan the QR code located on each locker to access the equipment on-demand at any time during park opening hours.

Sport and Recreation Portfolio representative Councillor, Jason Colley said the trial was great news for anyone looking to spend more time outdoors.

The lockers have been installed at Beth Boyd Park and Raby Esplanade Park as these locations have courts and kick-about areas where the equipment can be used

Free equipment hire will help to encourage participation in outdoor play and create more opportunities for residents to exercise close to home.

Cr Colley

“Our research found 73% of Aussies say cost stops them from being active, so we’re proud to partner with Redland City Council and SportsBox to help locals get outside and play,” Mr Sekulich said.

“This initiative perfectly captures what Decathlon is all about – breaking down cost barriers so everyone can enjoy the benefits of sport.”

The Beth Boyd Park locker has equipment for basketball, volleyball and soccer, while the Raby Esplanade Park locker has equipment for soccer, table tennis and basketball.

The trial will operate in the two locations until October 2026, with Council to then consider whether the lockers should be rolled out to other areas of the city.

Other Vending Machine Applications