The Kit-Kats

In Japan, there are many things that are different, like vending machines. They operate the same manner as those in the United States of America, though using a different currency - the En, or "Yen." The other major way in which Japanese vending machines are different than their American counterparts is their merchandise. Think about what you find in American vending machines. There are usually two types: Soda and snacks. Soda includes either Pepsi or Coca-cola products but not both; snacks includes 80% candy, 15% saturated fat, and 5% gum/breath mints.

There are a variety of vending machines available in Japan: Soda-Coffee-Tea, Vegetables, underware. Those are just the ones I've seen. Something conspicuously missing? Candy. Snacks. Gum. After five months in Japan, I found my first vending machine distributing candy. It was one of 15 options - the rest being soda-tea-coffee.

Not only did it take me five months to find a vending machine that distributes candy, but there was only one option of candy - the Kit-Kat. One needs only to see my friend, Sabine's, collection of random Kit-Kats that Japan produces. While America has just branched out from milk chocolate into the dark chocolate and white chocolate varieties, Japan is way ahead of the curve with flavors that include, but are not limited to: red wine, plum soda, soy sauce, baked potato, and apple and lemon vinegars, respectively. Although I have only tried lemon vinegar, it was tasty.

The other noticable difference in the Kit-Kat was its packaging. It was dispensed in a small glass bottle with a plastic lid - read: 100% recyclable. For 200Y ($2.10) I received four smaller-than-fun sized Kit-Kats.



Ohh, Japan.