''Shokken'' (食券 "food ticket") are a type of Japanese

ticket machine A ticket machine, also known as a ticket vending machine (TVM), is a vending machine that produces paper or electronic tickets, or recharges a stored-value card or smart card or the user's mobile wallet, typically on a smartphone. For instance, ...

vending machine A vending machine is an automated machine that dispenses items such as snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets to consumers after cash, a credit card, or other forms of payment are inserted into the machine or payment is otherwise m ...

, usually used at restaurants for ordering food.

Information

''Shokken'' machines were first seen in 1926 at

Tokyo Station Tōkyō Station (, ) is a major railway station in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. The original station is located in Chiyoda's Marunouchi business district near the Tokyo Imperial Palace, Imperial Palace grounds. The newer Eastern extension is not far ...

There are currently over 43,000 shokken machines in Japan. ''Shokken'' are often found in

restaurant A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...

cafes A coffeehouse, coffee shop, or café (), is an establishment that serves various types of coffee, espresso, latte, americano and cappuccino, among other hot beverages. Many coffeehouses in West Asia offer ''shisha'' (actually called ''nargile ...

fast-food restaurant A fast-food restaurant, also known as a quick-service restaurant (QSR) within the industry, is a specific type of restaurant that serves fast food, fast-food cuisine and has minimal Foodservice#Table service, table service. The food served ...

s and other establishments. A typical ''shokken'' machine features buttons where the customer can select an item, a coin slot, where the customer can pay for the item and a

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where the customer can receive their receipt. Upon receiving their receipt, the customer can then exchange their receipt for their purchased item.''Japan Made Easy'', publisher: ''Passport Books'', published: 1995''Japanese language and culture for business and travel'', publisher: ''University of Hawaii Press'', published: 1987''Japanese: Familiarization & Short-term Training'', publisher: ''Foreign Service Institute, Department of State'', published: 2011 ''Shokken'' machines can be standalone machines and sometimes are located on

countertop A countertop, also counter top, counter, benchtop, worktop (British English) or kitchen bench (Australian or New Zealand English), bunker (Scottish English) is a raised, firm, flat, and horizontal surface. They are built for work in kitchens o ...

s and tables. Food ticket vending machines in Yayoiken

Companies often use ''shokken'' machines as they can reduce the amount of staff needed, reduce theft, reduce the turnover rate and can help reduce ordering errors. While useful, ''shokken'' machines are not associated with a fine dining atmosphere, as they are often seen in inexpensive restaurants such as Matsuya,

Yoshinoya is a Japanese multinational company, multinational fast food chain, and the second-largest chain of ''gyūdon'' (beef bowl) restaurants. The chain was established in Japan in 1899. Its motto is "Tasty, low-priced, and quick". Etymology and log ...

and Sukiya. ''Shokken'' machines also can break and limit customized orders.''Read Practical Japanese'', publisher: ''Kenkyusha'', published: 1976

References

{{reflist Dispensers Vending machines Retail formats Commercial machines