# Do they really have used panty vending machines in Japan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 31, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451 "2002-08-31T16:33:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Patrol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Cat\_Patrol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Patrol)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/1 "2002-08-31T16:33:49Z")
A radio host I was listening to this morning claimed that there are vending machines in Japan that dispense used, unwashed panties. And that Japanese men like to buy the panties and then sniff them throughout the day. Someone please tell me this isn’t true! ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/2 "2002-08-31T17:17:59Z")
[Snopes](http://www.snopes2.com/sex/kinky/panties.htm) is your friend, but in this case, it’s true–sort of. > [@](#): > > Claim: Vending machines in Japan at once offered for sale panties purportedly worn by schoolgirls. > Status: True. > > Origins: In Japan in 1993 previously-worn panties were being offered for sale in vending machines. The used underwear had supposedly been worn by schoolgirls and were being sold for the equivalent of US $50 apiece. > \< huge snip of fascinating Snopes discussion of kinky Japanese sex practices \> > …There was thus a waiting market for “schoolgirl panties” machines, in that those looking to obtain such items would not have to brave a bura-sera shop to fulfill their desires. These mechanical points of sale appeared in 1993 in Chiba City (Chiba Prefecture), in an area known for its porn magazine and adult video vending machines. Almost immediately, an outcry was raised against them, but there was a problem in getting them removed: Whereas sellers required licences to distribute other types of goods, no such requirement was on the books for soiled underwear, because no one had foreseen the possibility of trade in such an item. These machines existed outside the law in the sense that no specific statute existed that could be invoked to combat them. > > The solution was as creative as it is odd-sounding – the machines were countered by invoking the Antique Dealings Law, a statute which stipulates that an antique dealer or a dealer in second-hand items must obtain permission from local authorities. Lacking those permissions, the items could not be vended. > > In September 1993, three businessmen were charged with selling used panties without a permit under the provenance of this law. The machines were seen no more, ending this phase of Japan’s “Vend me your rears!” craze. And I found that by Googling “japan panty vending machines”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/3 "2002-08-31T17:49:00Z")
Hmm. I guess some of this explains why my panties were stolen in the Tokyo area. I stayed with a friend’s relatives once and hung my underwear to dry on their clothes line. In the morning they were all gone! I was pissed. :mad: After reading this thread I checked ebay and noticed that it has a policy that one can’t auction used panties. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/4 "2002-08-31T18:52:42Z")
I saw a machine for pantyhose (new ones) in Japan. ---
**Author:** ![a\_gherkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f6c823/32.png) [@a\_gherkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a_gherkin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2002, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/5 "2002-08-31T20:26:10Z")
while strolling down the high street in great yarmouth (a really cheesey town in england) i passed a small vending machine, the type you get bouncy balls and stuff like that out of, which was labelled ‘used granny pants’!! after throwing up at the thought of owning a pair of ‘used granny pants’, i continued merrily on my way! ---
**Author:** ![Tsubaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Tsubaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsubaki)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/6 "2002-09-01T01:24:59Z")
I have never seen vending machines for panties, but that’s probably because I live in the sticks. But I’ve seen them for drinks (hot and cold), cigarettes, rice, batteries, ice cream, perishable foods, cup noodles, condoms and magazines. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/7 "2002-09-01T01:53:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose \* > \*\*[And I found that by Googling “japan panty vending machines”. 😉 \*\* stray thought - a search of your computer history would keep investigative type folks going 'round & round for _years_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/8 "2002-09-01T02:01:08Z")
**Oh** yeah… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/9 "2002-09-01T14:26:14Z")
Since Japan has finally jumped on the international bandwagon and started taking child prostitution semi-seriously, the used panty business has picked up somewhat as a legal alternative (I noticed the OP hadn’t mentioned this (but Snopes did), but a frequent selling point was that they had belonged to a schoolgirl). They aren’t sold in vending machines any more, but I have seen sex toy shops selling them indoors. As I’m less interested in the underwear than in its contents (I never understood those kids who would open their Christmas presents and then just play with the wrapping), I didn’t buy a pair to have it checked for authenticity. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/10 "2002-09-01T14:53:55Z")
Here’s a news story about a used panty shop getting caught offering a little too much [Bloo Sailor Bust Soils Store’s Fame](http://www12.mainichi.co.jp/news/mdn/search-news/859076/panties-0-12.html) It’s unclear from the article whether the store’s name is “Bloo Sailor” or “Boo Sailor”. Editing standards for the English-language newspapers here are pretty low. And if you’re wondering about the highlighting, I did a search for “panties”. The other stories that came up are listed on the left side. Seems like a lot of police and military personnel out there with panty fetishes. ---
**Author:** ![timtak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@timtak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/timtak)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/11 "2015-03-29T09:03:56Z")
I live in the sticks but found one such vending machine near my home on Saturday. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6E6XM5FzPRk) ---
**Author:** ![kaltkalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@kaltkalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaltkalt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/12 "2015-03-29T13:06:55Z")
I just saw a documentary that had a segment about this the other day. Yes they really do. But for legal reasons they are advertised and sold as fake, novelty, fresh/new/unworn panties. But they are actually pre-worn. There’s an understanding that despite being sold as clean, they are actually pre-pussified and not clean at all. ---
**Author:** ![kaltkalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bb73d2/32.png) [@kaltkalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaltkalt)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/13 "2015-03-29T13:08:05Z")
just realized this was an old thread. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/14 "2015-03-29T14:53:59Z")
Old thread but interesting video update. The roadside adult vending booth on a mostly empty road is a strange but logical thing. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/15 "2015-03-29T21:35:34Z")
> [@Tsubaki](#): > > But I’ve seen them for drinks (hot and cold), cigarettes, rice, batteries, ice cream, perishable foods, cup noodles, condoms and magazines. But is there a market for _pre-worn_ condoms? Apparently, in Japan such would not be surprising. ---
**Author:** ![Scytheria](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Scytheria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scytheria)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/16 "2015-03-30T03:22:10Z")
If these things do exist, it seems that the concept is somewhat easily abused. How would you know who (or what) had worn the items, or even if they had been worn at all? What makes a particularly choice pair of knickers? Would you be able to ask for a refund if you didn’t find sufficient evidence of schoolgirl? Surely an unscrupulous panty-vendor would have numerous quick and cheap ways to simulate that special worn look/smell/feel/etc. What would make an effective recipe for a fake? A misting-spray gun, some water and an anchovy springs to mind. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/17 "2015-03-30T04:59:27Z")
What a coincidence! There is someone currently selling used panties on the Tokyo CraigsList. http: // tokyo. craigslist. jp / cas / 4955144247. html > [@](#): > > Selling my little used panties ❤ > $60 or ¥7,000. > For an additional $150 I will deliver in person. > Each pair are delivered wrapped and discreet. Enjoy������ ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/18 "2015-03-30T05:21:18Z")
When I lived in Japan circa 1991 - 95, this was known. Actually, at the time, Tokyo Journal, a foreign lifestyle magazine in Japan, researched this. IIRC, it was a basically a porn movie actress/hooker recruiting deal. The percentage of women (school girls IIRC) of legal age, willing to sell used panties were statistically pretty high for also being willing to be featured in a porno movie and/or prostitution. The real profit came from the “acting” versus just covering the overhead with the worn panties. Vending machines in Japan sell freaking everything! My favorite was hard boiled detective noir branded whiskey “Cobra” - my friends dad still has an unopened bottle for 30 years ago. I can’t find a link and posted on the dope nearly 15 years ago on the [same topic](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=99109). ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2015, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-they-really-have-used-panty-vending-machines-in-japan/126451/19 "2015-03-30T06:43:13Z")
On a semi-related tangent, I’ve been on the Tokyo subway many times and there is **way** less sex going on there than some websites would have you believe.