Capsule toy vending machines, or 'gacha' machines, can be found all over Japan. They dispense random toys and collectibles for a small fee, with themed machines covering everything from popular anime ...

The 'capsule machine,' once only seen at stationery stores in front of schools, has recently gained attention among people in their 20s. Capsule machines, which occupy a spot in pop-up stores in ...

TOKYO — Yoshiaki Yamanishi set out to create the most boring toy imaginable. In the booming universe of Japanese capsule vending machines, the competition is strong. Anyone with some pocket change ...

Some of the about 20 items available from the "Aji Stone gacha" capsule toy vending machine, such as paperweights and vases, are seen at Miyama Park in Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Aug. 22, 2025.

NekoDrop smart vending machines feature trending collectibles, including Pop Mart figures, Pokémon and sports trading cards, capsule toys and limited-edition blind-box releases for travellers.

Vending machines have certain advantages that make getting into the vending machine business attractive, particularly to beginning entrepreneurs with limited capital. However, there's also a lot of ...