Vending machines still cost 100 yen, but cans shrink now
One effect of inflation is to make prices go up. But psychologically, if the appearance of unchanging packages can be presented, despite the net weight being diminished, then buyers have the impression that prices are unaffected by ambient cost increases. The vending machine 5km to the south of downtown Yanagawa illustrates this "shrink-flation" (inflation by shrinking the content).
The 100-yen coin is the workhorse of vending machines. For a generation of more the price of bottle and cans, hot or cold had been 100-yen. Then Yen depreciation, inflation, and production costs let to vending machines going to 120, 140, 160 and so on. However, in this example in the photo, a large sign promises buyers that you can have a drink for 100-yen, like the old days. What is not advertised is that the cans are miniaturized. The normal 250ml now is scaled to 170ml. it is the same graphic design, the same flavorful drink, but now there is less of it. Something like Alice in Wonderland, the things now seem smaller; or one's own body has grown too big, relative to the artifacts.
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Vending machines still cost 100 yen, but cans shrink now
One effect of inflation is to make prices go up. But psychologically, if the appearance of unchanging packages can be presented, despite the net weight being diminished, then buyers have the impression that prices are unaffected by ambient cost increases. The vending machine 5km to the south of downtown Yanagawa illustrates this "shrink-flation" (inflation by shrinking the content).
The 100-yen coin is the workhorse of vending machines. For a generation of more the price of bottle and cans, hot or cold had been 100-yen. Then Yen depreciation, inflation, and production costs let to vending machines going to 120, 140, 160 and so on. However, in this example in the photo, a large sign promises buyers that you can have a drink for 100-yen, like the old days. What is not advertised is that the cans are miniaturized. The normal 250ml now is scaled to 170ml. it is the same graphic design, the same flavorful drink, but now there is less of it. Something like Alice in Wonderland, the things now seem smaller; or one's own body has grown too big, relative to the artifacts.
Press L for lightbox (large) view; click the image or press Z for full image display.
Hover the mouse pointer over the image for pop-up remarks.