Vending machines attacked at Japanese airport in latest incident of tourists behaving badly
A tourist was recently captured on video repeatedly kicking and punching multiple vending machines at Japan’s Okinawa Naha International Airport.
The incident marks another instance of disruptive behavior by visitors in Japan.
Footage shows a woman, identified by bystanders as likely being Chinese, aggressively striking the vending machines.
The cause of the woman’s outburst was not immediately clear, however, observers have speculated that her frustration may have stemmed from difficulties operating the vending machine, or that the machine was not accepting her currency.
Despite potential technical issues, her actions appear more similar to that of a child having a temper tantrum as opposed to those of a civilised adult.
A member of the airport’s staff intervened, but their presence did not deter the woman, who continued her assault on the machines in plain view.
The video footage does show that the woman does eventually acquire a drink from the vending machine, but this doesn’t stop her from going back to strike the machines for one last time before she picks up her bags and leaves.
You can view the full video below:
This incident comes amidst increasing discussions in Japan about tourist etiquette.
As visitor numbers to the country continue to rise, there have been occasional reports of public disturbances or disrespect for local customs, such as individuals playing music from portable speakers on trains or assaults on staff working at events by tourists.
Authorities and tourism bodies often emphasize the importance of respectful behavior for all visitors to ensure a positive experience for both tourists and residents.
Whilst it doesn’t appear that the vending machines were particularly damaged by the woman’s violent outburst, it has led to many calling for authorities to clamp down on, and issue harsh punishments to, those who cannot behave in a civilised manner when visiting Japan.
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