There are an estimated four million vending machines in Japan. More than half of them dispense beverages; others, cigarettes, booze, soup, and more. You can find these vending machines everywhere: pedestrian areas, commercial zones, residential streets, near shrines, under awnings, at scenic overlooks. As part of life's infrastructure, they can be easy to overlook (except when in need of a can of coffee). Keen-eyed observers, however, will note much more: a wide range of sizes, colors, and unique offerings. A non-autonomous sub-population, hidden in plain sight.