Why Does Every Store in Japan Have Orange Balls at the Counter?
I’ll tell you right away, not because I like you but so this post shows up in search results: These balls full of orange paint are anti-theft devices. When someone robs a store, the clerk can throw the ball at the perp (or at the perp’s feet) so they’re easily identified after they escape. According to the Japan Times, though they’re only thrown in 7% of robberies, the balls mostly work as a deterrent, since stores prominently display them. They’re so visible that foreigners in Japan often wonder what they’re there for. And in the video below, the clerks act adorable as they awkwardly explain why the visiting American shouldn’t try to buy those orange balls on the counter.
