Residents of Himeji reported confusion yesterday when a popular street-corner vending machine began dispensing unsolicited life guidance along with its usual selection of soft drinks and canned coffee.
The issue came to light when several customers received their beverages accompanied by crisp slips of thermal paper reading messages such as “Consider calling your aunt” and “Your umbrella is not where you think it is.” One beverage purchaser was advised to “avoid bold investments this quarter,” which he later described as “timely, if unsettling.”
Officials from the manufacturer arrived to inspect the machine, initially suspecting a prank or internal malfunction. Instead, they discovered that the device’s digital interface had entered what the engineer termed an “interpretive diagnostic loop,” causing it to generate insights based on humidity patterns, purchase trends, and a dataset last updated in 2014. The engineer admitted the messages were “surprisingly coherent, given the circumstances.”
Local residents showed mixed reactions. While some appreciated the added guidance—one woman credited the machine with saving her from leaving laundry on the line during an unexpected shower—others found the commentary intrusive. An elderly man who bought a green tea received a slip urging him to “reconsider that argument with your neighbor.” He later reported feeling “judged, though not incorrectly.”
For now, the machine has been placed in a low-power state while technicians determine whether to restart it or let its new advisory role continue. Eustace himself received a slip warning him that “patience will soon be tested.” He declined to comment, noting only that the machine “may have a point.”
