Document 72 Hours

Season 6 Episode 9: A Taste of Home: A Soba & Udon Vending Machine

For 40 years, a vending machine has stood in a quiet corner of Akita Port, in northern Japan. Even when a winter snowstorm batters the area in mid-January, a constant trickle of customers is drawn to this time-worn machine that sells plain soba and udon noodles in a steaming-hot soup. A father and son out in the blizzard; a designated driver on his way home from work; and a cancer patient reminiscing about the past. Even though the machine has become prone to breakdowns that have weakened the flavor of its soup, customers come around the clock for a warming bowl of noodles. Why is it so popular? This program reveals why many customers keep coming back.

Genre:

Documentary

Seasons:

17

Episodes:

502

Cast:

Quality:

HD

Duration:

25 min

First Air:

2006

Rating:

8.5