Japan has some 3.8 million vending machines or one for every 33 people

Photo: Hot coffee from a Japanese vending machine

"In 1973, the Japanese upstart Pokka developed the first vending machine to sell hot drinks....Today, some 3.8 million vending machines line Japan’s streets, or about 1 for every 33 people, according to the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association..." 

Source: One Obstacle Won’t Budge in Japan’s Fight With Deflation

By HIROKO TABUCHI,

Published: May 31, 2013, 

New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/01/business/global/in-japan-a-hard-to-budge-obstacle-looms-over-the-fight-with-deflation.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0