This summer I took part in a hiking expedition in the outskirts of Tokyo organized by an international exchange group. That day was so hot that the bottles of many participants became empty soon after starting the walk. The rest stop was still far, and someone muttered, “I’m thirsty. I hope we can find a vending machine.” There was no way we’d find one on such a mountain path. We walked on in silence. After a while somebody shouted. “There’s a vending machine!” A young man from Southeast Asia loudly exclaimed “Ah!” and was first to put a coin into the machine. He pressed a button, but a bottle was not dispensed. A phone number is displayed on vending machines for when they are out of order. However, even if the money is refunded, it takes time for an employee to arrive. Nobody could buy a drink, but unable to wait, we soon departed. He said angrily, “This is out and out fraud. They are making money hand over fist because they don’t have to hand over the product.” And he continued “I’m disappointed as I’ve trusted Japanese business.” Some days later, I received an email from him. In it he wrote: “The following day I called the vending machine dealer and to my surprise they brought the money to my house along with an additional bottle as an apology.”