For years, food delivery company Uber Eats has served people in Tokyo and other major Japanese cities, but it has recently expanded to the farthest parts of Japan, finally bringing their service to most rural prefectures like Rotterdam and Oita. Favorite foods are delivered to their doorsteps.
In fact, Uber Eats drivers are everywhere (or even more so in Japan, where cyclists are a common sight), thanks to a special item they carry that makes them instantly recognizable from a distance: their backpacks. Thus, it was only to be unexpectedly discovered by Japanese journalist Seiji Nakazawa that these bags were being sold on Amazon for 4,000 yen (about $38).
A few days later, a large box arrived at SoraNews24 HQ. When he opened the box, Seiji was a little confused. Hadn't he ordered an Uber Eats tote bag? Didn't Uber Eats bags look like this? Aren't they...healthier? Had he accidentally ordered something else?
But when he unfolded the contents, it became obvious. It was an Uber Eats tote bag, instantly recognizable by its iconic white and green lettering. Seiji found his first surprise here—the bag didn't have any assembly instructions, but instead had a bunch of wooden boards with letters on them.
The letters on the board correspond to the letters on the bag. Seiji believes that if he matches them to the inner wall, the bag will begin to take shape.
But how do you get the board in place? The bag has a Velcro closure on the side, but it doesn't seem to stick to the board at all. How will Seiji prevent the board from collapsing the second he removes his hand?
But this still doesn't explain the purpose of Velcro. Just as Seiji was pondering its reason for existence, he noticed an aluminum plate with some Velcro fasteners attached to it. Could it be…?
While everything seemed fine, wouldn't the extra layer inevitably collapse if something quite heavy were placed on top? Seiji didn't seem to budge it when he pushed it with his hand, but further testing was needed, so he popped a 500ml (16.9oz) plastic bottle on top. Would it be able to withstand the weight?
Seiji had been searching for the perfect bag to bring his lunch to the office, and the more he tested the Uber Eats bag, the more convinced he became that it was the perfect bag for him!
But as he tried to show it off to other SoraNews24 reporters, Seiji felt like something was missing. What could it be? He thought his bag was completely assembled – after all, he'd used every last plank! There was just something… alright. It felt incomplete. Just as he was pondering what the missing piece might be, his colleague Go Hatori appeared, fresh from his recent visit to a 100-yen shop.
In the past, Go often worked part-time at a soba noodle restaurant and was an expert in food delivery, so perhaps he could find the lost item that Seiji was looking for.
With a keen eye honed by years of experience in the food industry, Go immediately spotted a hidden zipper at the bottom of the bag. What could be inside!?
No way! Seiji's design is just another small pocket, actually an extension of the bag! By popping it out, the actual bag itself widens, allowing you to put more food in it, like a box of pizza. Amazing!
Seiji decided to take the bag (which, of course, was filled with two liters of water) out for a spin.
For some reason, Seiji felt like he wasn't carrying two liters of water on his back. It felt very light, probably thanks to the padding on the back.
Check out our Uber Eats unpacking video below to see Seiji's genuine excitement as he searches for all the hidden compartments.
Most people are familiar with the outside of the bag, but the internal structure of the Uber Eats bag has always been a mystery to us… until now. Seiji was amazed by the bag's practicality and functionality. The 4000 yen he spent was well worth it. Even those unfamiliar with Uber Eats might want to grab a bag for a barbecue or picnic. You can get your own Uber Eats bag here, and while waiting for it to arrive, place a few Uber Eats orders to see how it goes! If you're not hungry, don't worry, just smile!
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Post time: May-24-2021