Shokken

Shokken (食券 "food ticket") are a type of Japanese ticket machine/vending machine, usually used at restaurants for ordering food.

Shokken machines were first seen in 1926 at Tokyo Station^[1] There are currently over 43,000 shokken machines in Japan.^[2]

Shokken are often found in restaurants, cafes, fast-food restaurants 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 printer where the customer can receive their receipt. Upon receiving their receipt, the customer can then exchange their receipt for their purchased item.^{[3][4][5][6][7][8]} Shokken machines can be standalone machines and sometimes are located on countertops and tables. They can also be modified for other uses.^[9]

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.^[10] While useful, shokken machines are not associated with a fine dining atmosphere,^[10] as they are often seen in inexpensive restaurants such as Matsuya, Yoshinoya and Sukiya. Shokken machines also can break and limit customized orders.^[9][11]