It’s amazing that a Japanese train ticket machine has never been in the running when it’s time to elect a new pope, because they are about as close to infallible as a machine can get. You stick in your money, and – unlike the ticket machine I once encountered in San Francisco, which rained down $14.00 IN CHANGE like some sort of demented Vegas slot machine – even if you put in a ¥10,000 note (the equivalent of a hundred dollar bill), the machine spits out nice neat yen notes and perfect change along with your ticket.
But surely no machine can be THAT perfect! What happens when The Great And Mighty Oz DOES make a mistake? Well, hidden behind a notice so ordinary it’s the perfect disguise is…a secret door! And behind the little door is…Super Fixer! Yes, a real live train station employee stands behind the bank of ticket machines, making sure the cash is topped up in the change-making part, emptying the avalanche of money that comes in during the day, and being on call in case something goes wrong! Who knew?
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Would you like to be whisked away to Japan, wherever you are?
“The Samurai’s Octopus…is a truly remarkable book, one that surprised and charmed me at every turn of the page. You’re in for a treat.”
—James Ziskin, Anthony, Barry, and Macavity Award-winning author of the Ellie Stone mysteries
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Jonelle Patrick writes novels set in Japan, produces the monthly e-magazine Japanagram, and blogs at Only In Japan and The Tokyo Guide I Wish I’d Had
Only In Japan 
And his name is Toru, which became mutated into Toto. Little known fact.
Yow, really? I did not know! How did you find out? I admit, I never read the books, just watched the movie.
I was joking! Nobody gets me….
Doh! I’m so ignorant about movie stuff that you could tell me Dorothy was actually played by a man and I’d believe you!