Tokyo shuts down its vending machines for U.S. president’s visit

[The Straight Story]

This evening, U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Japan. While here, he’ll be meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with the two scheduled to discuss strengthening diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Japan, and also the possibility of Japan participating in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP.

...

We noticed this on our way into the office, when we hopped off the subway at Shinjuku Sanchome Station, which is connected through blocks of underground tunnels to Shunjuku Station, the busiest transit hub in the country (not to mention the world).

With so many people passing through, it’s a sure thing some of them will be feeling thirsty and/or suffering from a snack attack. Thankfully, Japan isn’t just the land of massive crowds, but also the kingdom of vending machines, and Shinjuku Sanchome Station is packed full of automated spots where you can buy a bottle of tea, can of coffee, or cone of ice cream.

...

All of this follows the recent announcement that public coin lockers will be temporarily unavailable during the meetings between the two heads of state. Just as we’d been told, each bank of compartments was locked tight with notices explaining why plastered on the doors.

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/04/23/we-hope-youre-not-thirsty-japan-shuts-down-its-vending-machines-for-u-s-presidents-visit/

[djean111]

1. Best vending machines in the world.

Hot stuff, cold stuff. And always clean and I never saw one vandalized.
There must have been a specific threat made. Not necessarily directly at Obama, but perhaps something bad while he was visiting.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. This is pretty standard actually

I am surprised it is even a news story.

[GP6971]

6. Oh, I'm not

We can very paranoid about security.....and maybe rightfully so. I was in Korea earlier in the month and witnessed the security for a foreign PM visiting South Korea. Very impressive, but nothing to the scale that Obama will have.

I knew a SS agent on the presidential protective detail as well as an AF support person that supported the president........not too much said, but one could really "read" into what they did

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. When Obama visited Mexico City,

we were there for a family visit. We saw one of the five choppers they brought in, so we might, or might not have seen Marine One.

It is to that point.

And the perimeters... my god the Perimeters

The only reason AF 1 did not land at the AF base in Santa Lucia is we want to show the flag.

[msongs]

3. beware of corporatists bearing secret trade scams nt

[Blue Owl]

4. A cone of ice cream? A bar of candy? Or a chip of potato?

n/t

[Earth_First]

5. Good thing I got my whiskey and M&M's ahead of time...