Afraid of being mugged? Buy vending machine camouflage!

[BTM]

I couldn't make this up.

Apparently, the fear of street crime in Japan is growing (despite the fact it's still actually pretty low.)  So, some inventors have come up with the idea of fake vending machine camouflage. 

Yes, you heard me right.

Apparently, somehow if you're on the street and fear you're being followed, you an stand somewhere, pull out a few folds and then, viola!  You look like a vending machine (well, sorta.)



Luckily I'm not the only one that sees this as a tad naive, even some of the Japanese are skeptical, but apparently the land of the rising sun is also the land of the "We'll try any invention no matter how silly and dumb". 

You can read the article here...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/world/asia/20japan.html?em&ex=1193025600&en=35c022026819f87a&ei=5087%0A

[trekgeezer]

My daughter went to college in Japan for 10 months and she told us of many strange things they do there.

We sent her a care package once and I included a big package of the pocket size Kleenex packs.  When the package got there they got a big laugh out of the Kleenex. Seems one form of advertising in Japan is people pass out little packs of tissue on street, my daughter already had a big drawer full of these.

She and her friend from Australia  would always look for restrooms with a western style toilet.  Girls in Japan just use a hole in the floor in public restrooms.

Don't get me started about their weird game shows.

[BTM]

She and her friend from Australia  would always look for restrooms with a western style toilet.  Girls in Japan just use a hole in the floor in public restrooms.

A hole in the floor?  What do they do, expect the girls to squat down or something?  Or, even SIT on the floor? 

Bizarre.

I'm told another thing they do in restrooms is they have music or white noise playing so that the person in one stall can't hear what's going on in the next stall.  Now, that might be a good idea...

[flackbait]

Honestly They gotta have some dumb morons for that trick to work.

[Ash]

What I'm wondering is...where do they keep the rolled up vending machine costume?   
Do they constantly wear a backpack that holds it?

[Raffine]

And what if the would-be mugger suddenly has a craving for a refreshing beverage?

[Derf]

It looks to me more like something the muggers would use: Hide in plain sight until the victim comes by. Of course, anyone should be a bit suspicious of a Coke machine wearing Nikes.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

It looks to me more like something the muggers would use: Hide in plain sight until the victim comes by. Of course, anyone should be a bit suspicious of a Coke machine wearing Nikes.

That was the first thing I thought of.  Wait for someone to fumble in their purse while vending, then snag the purse and run off!
-Ed

[Khaz]

It looks to me more like something the muggers would use: Hide in plain sight until the victim comes by. Of course, anyone should be a bit suspicious of a Coke machine wearing Nikes.

That was the first thing I thought of.  Wait for someone to fumble in their purse while vending, then snag the purse and run off!
-Ed

I don't know about that.. It woulden't be too hard for the cops to track down a vending machine stumbling blindly down the street with a purse now would it?

[Andrew]

I don't know about that.. It woulden't be too hard for the cops to track down a vending machine stumbling blindly down the street with a purse now would it?

In the United States - yes.  In Tokyo - not necessarily.

[Rev. Powell]

I thought all the Japanese did when they were mugged was say "take anything you want!"

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su68w4QZinM

Good to see they've decided to be more proactive.

[indianasmith]

I lived in Japan from 1983 to 1986.  Spent a lot of time offbase and among the locals.  They are wonderful, admirable people, but boy they do have their quirks.