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First Video of the Japanese Vending Machine Dress Transforming
Posted by Brian Lam at 2:13 PM on November 10, 2007
Here's a video report from Reuters on the transforming dress that disguises a scared, vulnerable stalking target into a vending machine you'd find in any Tokyo side street. This is the first time I've seen this dress on video. And I like how the reporter calls it a modern day Ninja tactic, while other Japanese men in the segment say it's probably a better idea to run from rapists and muggers than to lift up your dress and try to disguise yourself as a Soda machine. [Reuters, thanks Chad]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
dorinku
Posted November 19, 2007 2:57 PM
would work so long as you had time and space to set up and it wasn't windy...
DJJS
Posted 6:26 AM 10/11/07
What if the bad guy decides to get a drink?
DJJS
weatherman
Posted 5:44 AM 10/11/07
@Barry99705: I had no idea what you were talking about, so I googled it up. I actually like that! Though I think this product is more like the urban car camouflage that disguises your Benz as an old Chrysler. Can't seem to find the link for that, but I think I saw it on Jalopnik.
I think thse products are more about being clever or ironic than they are about creating an actual product. Obviously in this case the press got ahold of it and hammed it up a bit, and got her to do the same so that she actually comes off looking pretty psycho-paranoid. Especially in Japan which has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. So it all comes off looking pretty dumb (especially the news guy) but I appreciate the spirit of the creation.
weatherman
Neoistheone2000
Posted 5:38 AM 10/11/07
I can see it now, I walk up to a vending machine to get a Coke, instead I get a Cute Japanese girl..... I love Coke!!!!
Neoistheone2000
StarChaser Tyger
Posted 5:36 AM 10/11/07
Ought to have an 'out of order' sign on it... Or be something disgusting, like Dr Pepper...
And it looks like if you have a friend, you can have a hidey-hole built for two, at the end... Now, just hope that he's drunk enough that he attributes the vending machine flapping in the breeze to that...
StarChaser Tyger
faust1200
Posted 4:16 AM 10/11/07
This woman makes the man that invented the bulletproof backpack look like a genius.
faust1200
Sunatic
Posted 2:59 AM 10/11/07
@GizFanAlpha: that's my concern. a product like that shouldn't get a lot of publicity like it's getting, it should maybe be something that teachers tell their student about in self defense classes. coz obviously, if the guy who's after you pays attention,he'll clearly notice that it's a disguise ( and don't even try it on a windy or rainy day).if they know that women disguise themselves as vending machines, they don't see their prey anymore and see a vending machine...well do the math
Sunatic
lunarstreaker
Posted 1:47 AM 10/11/07
lordy, lordy!!! Did ya ever just get the irrepressible urge to 'bang' a coke machine?
lunarstreaker
Barry99705
Posted 1:20 AM 10/11/07
This has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever seen, no wait, that was Microsoft Bob. This has got to be the second stupidest thing I've ever seen. Right up there with the "urban" tents that look like parked cars.
Barry99705
GizFanAlpha
Posted 1:05 AM 10/11/07
What if the bad guys somehow get a hold of this thing?
GizFanAlpha
faust1200
Posted 12:34 AM 10/11/07
What if your attacker is thirsty also? Better to design a dress that makes you look like Whoopi Goldberg.
faust1200
Trozzur
Posted 12:06 AM 10/11/07
For agrophobics. Did I spell that right?
Trozzur
AlphaUltima
Posted 10:32 PM 9/11/07
i can imagine the possible rape chase with the benny hill "yakkety sax" going on in the back. and fast-forwarded. god i miss that show.
AlphaUltima
Pegleg Joe
Posted 10:28 PM 9/11/07
Lol it seems the bland droll of news people has even made it to the far reaches of Japan.
On topic I do think it's pretty ingenious. Whether it would work or not, kinda doubt it. But it's not like I understand Japanese crime either.
Pegleg Joe
spock11384
Posted 10:12 PM 9/11/07
Autobots, ROLL OUT!
(sorry, it had to be done)
spock11384
NZRUSS
Posted 9:01 AM 10/11/07
This cola tastes fishy.
NZRUSS
Gormania
Posted 8:20 AM 10/11/07
If I watched correctly then I'm pretty sure she just lifted UP her skirt WHILST of running from the rapist. Lets see...
"Ah, a rapist! I'll just go in this dark secluded alley and lift up my skirt."
Genius!
Gormania
outlanderssc
Posted 9:59 AM 10/11/07
Forget about frightened women, think of how much money a prostitute could save on hotel bills -
Blow job, Joe? just step behind my vending machine disguise -
outlanderssc
nincompoop
Posted 9:59 AM 10/11/07
Once I've put my coin in her slot and pressed her button, what happens then? And when I push the coin reject button, what happens THEN! A charge of molestation is my guess, when all I wanted was some pop!
nincompoop
bobman1235
Posted 9:14 AM 10/11/07
@Trozzur: Nope, it's spelled "idiots".
bobman1235
nystreetfilms
Posted 12:18 PM 10/11/07
not for nothing... but I think a dress that turned into a giant herpe would be more of a deterant... then again, did you see that dress before it changed? Who would want to rape someone that wore something so drab?
nystreetfilms
firesign
Posted 2:30 PM 10/11/07
proof that the terrorists have already won.
and that the japanese have far better drugs than we americans.
firesign
archercc
Posted 4:10 PM 10/11/07
This would be great for a rapist. Get one of those skirts and hide behind it at night.
archercc
ripfire4
Posted 7:08 PM 10/11/07
Hmm. I figured the victim would have more fun with a pepper spray.
ripfire4
coolrepublica
Posted 10:22 PM 10/11/07
Haha! The journalist totally tried to cop her field in the last part of the video.
Seriously, this may sound funny for us Americans, but it might work in Japan.
coolrepublica
Amuro
Posted 12:40 AM 11/11/07
Sound funny? It looks pathetic. Unless the rapist or mugger chasing her is colorblind and missing an eye, and being chased as well. it won't work
Amuro
GizFanAlpha
Posted 3:12 AM 11/11/07
this is truely insane.
GizFanAlpha
donkeymon
Posted 5:56 AM 11/11/07
By the way, this isn't a "product" that anyone can (or would) buy. It's an art project.
donkeymon
bbfreak
Posted 2:01 PM 11/11/07
I love the surprised Asian guy, who says it mixes well into the landscape. Reminds me of Godzilla, those lovable B-movies.
bbfreak
omg-ponies
Posted 5:25 PM 11/11/07
@nystreetfilms: Thank you for being such a shining example of misogyny in the 21st Century.
omg-ponies
gwaring
Posted 1:41 PM 12/11/07
Attention stalkers and rapist:
Look for the Coke machine with feet!!
gwaring
ht9000
Posted 10:42 AM 11/11/07
Must be a slow news day at Reuters. Anyways, ladies, listen. That one guy had it right on, if some guy is trying to hurt you, RUN!!!
ht9000