I've recently learned in Japan fax machines are still a thing.
I don't think I haven't used a fax machine in a decade, and even in my work dealings with Japan I've always used more modern communication methods so I have asked around if perhaps Japanese regulations require companies to have fax machines or something.
Apparently this is a case of "I'll buy yours if you buy mine": for whatever reason Canon and Brother still manufacture an absurd amount of fax machines every year, and since it's pretty much useless to try and sell the things on export markets, other Japanese companies with business/corporate ties to Mizuho (Canon) and Brother still regularly buy fax machines from them, all the way down to their fourth/fifth tier subvendors and contractors.
I have to wonder how much money Brother alone must be blowing in the wind to manufacture a product that has pretty no much market left at this point of time...
