Ryan Bates: Drink Up

Located in Nishi-Kasai, a suburb in eastern Tokyo, this colorful vending machine became the framework for how I approached photography while living in Japan. Vending machines are an iconic part of Japanese culture. They can be found all across Japan in various shapes and sizes–dispensing drinks, food, and more. With over 5 million vending machines to be found, it’s not hard to find one with something you like.