Posted July 21, 2015 by Jonelle Patrick6 Comments Animals

Help, There’s A Hamster In My Drink!

Lately in Japan there’s been an explosion of vending machines selling little characters that perch on the side of your glass, so you never have to drink alone. But none of them has been nearly as cute as HAMSTERS.

Well, okay, at first glance, spotting seven of them scrambling to get at your drink before you do might be a tad off-putting... — Well, okay, at first glance, spotting seven of them scrambling to get at your drink before you do might be a tad off-putting…

but once you get used to the idea of sharing your libation with a plastic rodent, you'll never want to hoist a cold one without it! — …but once you get used to the idea of sharing your libation with a plastic rodent, you’ll never want to hoist a cold one without it!

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Read a novel set in Tokyo

In the wake of a deadly earthquake, fans erupt in a frenzy of mourning when it’s discovered that their favorite pop star is among the dead. But when Detective Kenji Nakamura is sent to investigate a death at a local shrine, he finds evidence that suggests the impossible: How could the head priest have been murdered by…*read more*

Jonelle Patrick View All

Writing mystery books set in Tokyo is mostly what I do, but I also blog about the odd stuff I see every day in Japan. I'm a graduate of Stanford University and the Sendagaya Japanese Institute in Tokyo, and a member of the International Thriller Writers, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters In Crime. When I'm not in Tokyo, I live in San Francisco. I also host a travel site called The Tokyo Guide I Wish I'd Had, so if you're headed to Japan and want to check out the places I take my friends when they're in town, take a look!

6 thoughts on “Help, There’s A Hamster In My Drink!” Leave a comment ›

Janice says:

July 21, 2015 at 10:55 am

Cute anti raised again… 🙂
Another thing on my ‘must get from vending machine’ while there list….

Reply
- Jonelle Patrick says:
  
  July 21, 2015 at 3:21 pm
  
  Uh, oh…better bring an empty duffel bag. Once you begin, you can’t stop! ^^;;
  
  Reply
Janice says:

July 22, 2015 at 3:05 pm

I’m thinking I’m going to have to do an entire budget just for vending machine goodies… I HAVE to have every one of the angry ghost kitties, not to mention all these guys and the ghost ones and………………………………………………. I’m sunk arn’t I?????? Another duffel bag it is…….. :-0

Reply
- Jonelle Patrick says:
  
  July 22, 2015 at 10:31 pm
  
  You’re doomed. Because there will be even more NEW CUTE ONES by the time you get there!
  
  Reply
Hilary Eichelberger says:

June 13, 2017 at 3:04 pm

Jonelle,
where’s the best collection of cute vending machines??

Reply
- Jonelle Patrick says:
  
  June 13, 2017 at 4:16 pm
  
  Excellent question! There’s a reliable bank of them on the toy floor of Yodabashi camera next to Akihabara Station, and there are good ones on every floor of the Radio Kaikan building near the Electric Town exit. There’s another good bunch outside the game center near Tokyu Hands in Shibuya (you walk right past it on the right hand side coming from Shibuya Station). Another favorite stalking spot is outside the Village Vanguard in Shimo-kitazawa (that’s where I found the hamsters). The toy floor of the Tokyu Hands in Ikebukuro also has a bunch of cute ones.
  
  Eek, it’s a little disturbing that I can instantly come up with so many places to waste hundred yen coins…(ﾟДﾟ)
  
  Reply