Japanese toymakers are upgrading their iconic capsule vending machines to meet surging demand.
The contraptions are growing in popularity among both children and adults, and foreign tourists.
The machines are typically cash-operated, randomly dispensing plastic capsules containing small toys for a few 100-yen coins.
But Bandai's new device also accepts payments from both Japanese and foreign smartphones. Bandai plans to install them at 100 locations across the country by next April.
T-Arts plans to introduce dispensers offering instructions in nine languages at airports, train stations, and shopping malls.
Sales from capsule machines have soared in recent years, hitting a record high of over 300 million dollars in the business year that ended in March.
The contraptions are growing in popularity among both children and adults, and foreign tourists.
The machines are typically cash-operated, randomly dispensing plastic capsules containing small toys for a few 100-yen coins.
But Bandai's new device also accepts payments from both Japanese and foreign smartphones. Bandai plans to install them at 100 locations across the country by next April.
T-Arts plans to introduce dispensers offering instructions in nine languages at airports, train stations, and shopping malls.
Sales from capsule machines have soared in recent years, hitting a record high of over 300 million dollars in the business year that ended in March.
◆iconic 象徴的な
◆contraption 風変わりな装置、仕掛けの凝った機械
◆dispense （機械・装置が商品や液体などを）放出する、出す