Japan does have a lot of vending machines. Maybe less vandalism in Japanese cities? But they also have a lot of staffed convenience stores (typically 7-Eleven

Japan does have a lot of vending machines. Maybe less vandalism in Japanese cities? But they also have a lot of staffed convenience stores (typically 7-Eleven) that are generally better than the random chain convenience store in the US (often in a gas station). Don't know the history.