Tokyo-based Fixer / Research Freelancer for Journalistic Article on Japan
Budget: €20 – €30 EUR
We are looking for a Tokyo-based fixer or freelance researcher to help with an in-depth journalistic assignment for Kalhotkomat.cz, a Czech marketplace focused on fetish and erotic fashion.
The article explores the history, evolution, and current state in 2025/2026 of “Used Panties” vending machines in Japan, with the aim of separating myths and urban legends from verified facts.
What we need help with
- Conducting short street interviews with Japanese people about whether they believe such vending machines existed and whether they have personally seen them.
- Carrying out a test purchase and unboxing from a vending machine selling “used panties” — from a street machine and/or a machine inside a shop — with photo and video documentation, including verification of wording and descriptions suggesting whether the products are really used.
- Trying to identify sex shops where used panties may still be sold unofficially or “under the counter,” verifying whether this still happens today, how difficult such places are to find, and, if possible, speaking with a seller.
- Visiting M’s Pop Life Department Store to document how “used” panties are presented today, whether such vending machines are actually there, whether tourists believe the products are genuinely used, and what the prices are.
- Collecting examples of Japanese websites or online platforms where this trade may have moved, and confirming how popular it is today.
- Trying to obtain a short interview or comment from someone from JVMA, the police, or another relevant institution who can confirm historical facts for the article, especially regarding legal changes and the disappearance of such vending machines.
- Finding original reports from the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association (JVMA), including current 2025/2026 data on vending machine numbers, trends, and market developments, as well as any historical materials relevant to the topic of used underwear vending machines in Japan.
- Finding additional original Japanese-language sources that can be used as references in the article.
- More generally, fact-checking the article and correcting any inaccurate or outdated claims.
Documentation needed
- Photos of relevant locations and vending machines
- Photos of product labels, wording, and packaging
- Video from visits, test purchases, and unboxing
Requirements
- Based in Tokyo
- Fluent in Japanese and English
- Comfortable researching sensitive/adult-oriented topics professionally
- Strong photo/video documentation skills
- Reliable, objective, and detail-oriented
Timing and budget
Please let us know:
- your rate for this assignment
- your estimated timeline for completing the research
The article explores the history, evolution, and current state in 2025/2026 of “Used Panties” vending machines in Japan, with the aim of separating myths and urban legends from verified facts.
What we need help with
- Conducting short street interviews with Japanese people about whether they believe such vending machines existed and whether they have personally seen them.
- Carrying out a test purchase and unboxing from a vending machine selling “used panties” — from a street machine and/or a machine inside a shop — with photo and video documentation, including verification of wording and descriptions suggesting whether the products are really used.
- Trying to identify sex shops where used panties may still be sold unofficially or “under the counter,” verifying whether this still happens today, how difficult such places are to find, and, if possible, speaking with a seller.
- Visiting M’s Pop Life Department Store to document how “used” panties are presented today, whether such vending machines are actually there, whether tourists believe the products are genuinely used, and what the prices are.
- Collecting examples of Japanese websites or online platforms where this trade may have moved, and confirming how popular it is today.
- Trying to obtain a short interview or comment from someone from JVMA, the police, or another relevant institution who can confirm historical facts for the article, especially regarding legal changes and the disappearance of such vending machines.
- Finding original reports from the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association (JVMA), including current 2025/2026 data on vending machine numbers, trends, and market developments, as well as any historical materials relevant to the topic of used underwear vending machines in Japan.
- Finding additional original Japanese-language sources that can be used as references in the article.
- More generally, fact-checking the article and correcting any inaccurate or outdated claims.
Documentation needed
- Photos of relevant locations and vending machines
- Photos of product labels, wording, and packaging
- Video from visits, test purchases, and unboxing
Requirements
- Based in Tokyo
- Fluent in Japanese and English
- Comfortable researching sensitive/adult-oriented topics professionally
- Strong photo/video documentation skills
- Reliable, objective, and detail-oriented
Timing and budget
Please let us know:
- your rate for this assignment
- your estimated timeline for completing the research
Related categories:
Photography
Research
Market Research
Video Production
Journalism
Documentation
Local Job
Interviewing