NEWS
POSTED
2025.10.24
DIVISION
TITLE
< Aoyama Gakuin University x Tohan> A first for a Japanese university! Aoyama Gakuin University will install a "story vending machine" with original book selections for a limited time.
Aoyama Gakuin University (headquarters located in Sibuya ku, Tokyo) will be collaborating with Tohan Corporation (headquarters in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo) to install a "story vending machine" on its Aoyama campus as a trial for a limited time starting in late November 2025. This will be the first time such a machine has been installed on a university campus in Japan.
About the "Story Vending Machine"
- We will register multiple short stories in a "story vending machine" and install it in towns and facilities. The service will print a story randomly based on user input and distribute it for free on the spot.
The stories you register can be changed depending on the location, such as stories deeply connected to the area or texts related to events and projects. The word count should be around 500 to 2,500 characters, making it a short and easy read, taking about 3 to 5 minutes.
This project has been selected for the Agency for Cultural Affairs' "FY2025 Project for Promoting the Utilization of Written and Printed Cultural Resources."
"Purpose of establishment at Aoyama Gakuin University"
The installation of vending machines at Aoyama Gakuin University aims to address the declining reading habits of young people. By offering a random selection of books, similar to fortune-telling, it will create opportunities for students to discover new works. In addition to books related to Aoyama, such as works by alumni, the vending machines will also feature books recommended by students based on a pre-event survey. Furthermore, original short stories written by current students will be solicited and featured. Through the installation of these vending machines, we hope that students will rediscover the charm of stories they may not have encountered before, and that works written by students themselves will reach a wider audience.
Installation Schedule
| Installation location | period |
|---|---|
| Aoyama Campus | From late November 2025 |
| Sagamihara Campus | April 2026 onwards (planned) |
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[Overall view of the machine] The machine measures 118cm high x 38cm wide x 30cm deep (approximately 170cm high with the sign attached). It has a built-in control tablet and printer, and can be used by plugging it into a standard 100V outlet. *The photo is for illustrative purposes only.
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[Receipt Printing] Select and press one of the "Stories" buttons displayed on the screen, and one story will be randomly selected from the stories registered for that word and printed. *The photo is for illustrative purposes only.
![[Overall view of the machine] The machine measures 118cm high x 38cm wide x 30cm deep (approximately 170cm high with the sign attached). It has a built-in control tablet and printer, and can be used by plugging it into a standard 100V outlet. *The photo is for illustrative purposes only.](/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/agu_news_tohan_01.jpg){kind=link}
![[Receipt Printing] Select and press one of the "Stories" buttons displayed on the screen, and one story will be randomly selected from the stories registered for that word and printed. *The photo is for illustrative purposes only.](/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/agu_news_tohan_02-e1763350709966.jpg){kind=link}