Japanese vending machines offer grilled & chilled sweet potatoes

The sweet potato is a staple of Japanese cuisine. From autumn through winter a grilled sweet potato…

The sweet potato is a staple of Japanese cuisine. From autumn through winter a grilled sweet potato is a widely loved warm snack. A lot of shops sell them, but the most charming way to get one is by the trucks driven by old men who sing an enchanting little song about how delicious they are.

That’s not always the case, however; for those in the southwestern area of Miyazaki Prefecture, people can now acquire one from a vending machine.

These aren’t ordinary grilled sweet potatoes though. They’re chilled, making them more suited for the hot summer months rather than chilly winter nights where hot sweet potatoes are enjoyed. They say the chilling process brings out more of the sweetness too.

Of course, potatoes are not naturally ideal for vending machine use as they are irregularly shaped and have different centers of gravity. To address this inherent flaw, each potato is packed into a can to ensure a smooth drop. The cans also have the added benefit of keeping out pests.

The convenience of a grilled, chilled, and canned potato can be yours for 300 yen, and people are flocking to get one from one of the 11 machines located around Hyuga and Nobeoka cities in Miyazaki Prefecture.