Japan is famous for its vending machine culture. This is the land where you can buy everything from cosmetics to Kit-Kats from a machine. Even Coke is about to launch a next generation vendor, complete with cashless payment options, solar cells and panels that display the machine's social contributions. 

Given the national predilection for mechanical purchasing, it comes as little surprise that fruit brands are getting in on the action (although frankly nothing would surprise us after the vending machine that sold pornstar wigs for dogs). One of the latest vending success stories is Dole, who are doing a brisk trade in bananas.

Currently installed in train stations, the makers hope to start selling other fruit in vending machines directly inside offices and universities.

[Pics via Shibuya Keisai]

According to Japan Trends, Dole is targeting younger people who live by themselves and don’t eat breakfast properly. The JT blog also points out that Japanese etiquette considers it taboo to eat in public, so people will purchase their banana and then take it to their office or school before they eat it.