Urban Non-Legends: Japanese Vending Machines That Sell (Pre-Worn) Underwear
December 12th, 2007 by timbotronThis one is true. Even though we all wish it wasn’t.
In Japan, there are vending machines that sell underwear. Schoolgirls’ underwear. Previously worn and unwashed schoolgirls’ underwear.
Yes – an entire industry of trading-in the day’s underwear for a new pair. And underwear sold with a photo of the underwearer can fetch a higher price. The almighty Snopes has a nice article on this subject, which they report to be true.
Japan is apparently blanketed with bazillions of vending machines, and many of them cater to a widespread fetish culture known as “Buru-sera” [SFW Wikipedia link] (a corruption of the English terms “bloomers” =buru and “sailor” = sera). And as you may have guessed, Buru-sera is the attitude that adult women are sexy when they dress and behave like retarded 13-year-old girls: often clad in schoolgirl “sailor” uniforms, speaking in a high register like a child, and behaving like a dip. Apparently one of the finer trophies of this subculture is an actual pair of schoolgirl’s underpants.
According to Snopes, prior to 1993, little legal recourse existed to prevent these machines from vending their Untidy Hello Kitties – there were/are no Japanese laws specifically regarding the sale of used underwear. However, in 1993, the Antique Dealings Law was cleverly employed in preventing such sales: the sale of second-hand items must be approved by local authorities. Despite legal action against such vending machines, readers of Snopes have reported that they continue to exist in Japan.
If it were profitable, I would consider starting a business where I sell my own worn underwear on eBay, and I would even sell them with a photo of me sitting on a couch in my underwear, eating Cheetos, watching Kung Fu movies, and scratching myself.
Here are some good reasons for doing this:
•Money
•It would cut down on laundry expenses.
•Less dirty laundry in the laundry hamper (a.k.a. – “the floor”).
•I get to wear a brand-new pair of underwear every day. Mmmm, fresh!
Here are some good reasons for not doing this:
•It’s creepy
•The high potential for wackos and derranged stalkers (the only people who would buy such an item).
PhotoMann’s Gallery of Japanese Vending Machines may have one of the few internet images of a Japanese used underpants vending machine. *NOTE: If anyone can read Japanese, I would love to know if the machine in the above photo is indeed selling used underpants, or just the traditional non-used variety.
(photo used without permission from the awesome PhotoMann gallery of Japanese Vending Machines – please don’t get mad at us PhotoMann, we love you)
December 13th, 2007 at 11:06 am
I think that in America, perhaps you must be famous in order for people to buy your used undies……………….. http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/12/11/mannys-underwear-for-sale-on-ebay/ . My response to this was ……………EW. Buttsweat……. no thank you. I’m a fan, but not THAT big of a fan.
You could try to sell yours and see how it compares to what Manny’s sold for. hehehehe. CHALLENGE!
December 19th, 2007 at 3:04 am
[...] the nation that brought you vending machines that sell schoolgirls’ underwear comes the perfect marriage of misogyny, Victorian era music and fashion, flash games, and a good [...]
March 17th, 2008 at 1:00 am
[...] for those who still can’t get over the used panties vending, you can find more info here. Posted by quriouslyqueer Filed in [...]
July 3rd, 2009 at 6:14 am
Worn clothes can be fashionable.