A vending machine in Japan’s northeastern prefecture of Fukushima is garnering attention for selling “kokeshi,” traditional Japanese wooden dolls.
The machine was installed in Inawashiro Town’s Nakanosawa district last month. It sells the hot spring resort town’s signature Nakanosawa Kokeshi, which have been crafted for around 100 years.
The machine operates 24 hours a day and sells five types of dolls handmade by four local artisans. Each doll is priced at 2,000 to 4,000 yen, or about 14 to 28 dollars.
The vending machine was set up by Nishimura Kazutaka, an apprentice kokeshi artisan and local restaurant operator, with the aim of promoting the town’s specialty.
A local resident in his 60s expressed delight at seeing the kokeshi dolls available in a vending machine.
Nishimura said that initially, only one doll sold every three days, but to his surprise, sales have increased to one doll per day. He added that he hopes the machine will help spread the town’s kokeshi dolls to a wider audience, including people of all ages and internationally.