Kebabs taste better with a side of janken. 

When you think of food in Japan, kebabs probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind, but there are plenty of kebab shops to be found here. Over in Tokyo’s neighbouring Chiba Prefecture, you’ll even find a kebab shop that adds a dash of Japanese culture to every order, in the form of janken, Japan’s version of rock-paper-scissors.

Our reporter Takuya Inaba stumbled upon the unusual setup while visiting Shin-Matsudo Station, when his eye was drawn to a bright blue restaurant called Rose Janken Kebab.

▼ Intrigued by the name, he headed over to try it out.

▼ The sign cleverly uses an image of rock, paper, scissors hands between the words “Rose” and “Kebab”

▼ Stepping inside, Takuya found himself in a cosy little space with two tables and a clean and welcoming interior design.

▼ The menu contained all the usual kebab offerings, with chicken, beef or a mix of the two available.

Takuya ordered a kebab sandwich and was waiting for it to be prepared when the man behind the counter suddenly made him an offer.

▼ “Brother, janken?”

As someone who’s grown up playing janken, Takuya was confident in his rock-paper-scissors prowess, and when the man behind the counter told him he would get extra fillings for free if he won, he became even more determined to win the game.

▼ Janken…

▼ …PON!

With his fingers outstretched in the paper position, Takuya defeated the rock fist thrown by staff, and was able to enjoy extra fillings as his reward.

▼ Sure enough, Takuya’s Mixed Kebab Sandwich (850 yen [$5.35]) was loaded up with extra fillings when he received it.

It was heavy to pick up, and when he took a giant bite, his taste buds were hit with an intense, satisfying meatiness. It was the kind of kebab that makes you feel like you’re getting a proper meal, and he loved every bite of it.

The sauce was particularly good, with a rich sweetness followed by a spicy kick that made him want to keep eating, and the chicken was nice and tender too.

From his experience, kebab shops in Japan tend to use minced meat in its beef offerings, but here, the beef was sliced up in generous portions with a steak-like texture. It made for a hearty sandwich, and Takuya found himself enjoying it far more than he thought he would.

Of course, winning the game of janken added a little something to the deliciousness, but as he got to the end of the meal he couldn’t help but wonder: What would’ve happened if he’d lost the janken battle? He decided to ask the store employee, who replied:

▼ “If you lose, you get a little extra.”

So as it turns out, there are no losers here – if you win the game of janken with staff, you get a load of extra fillings, and if you don’t win, you get a lesser extra amount. The employee also explained that the janken challenge is one of the shop’s signature features, and it helps to add a dash of fun and excitement to every order.

The janken game is less a high stakes affair and more a fun interaction, because while Takuya was eating, a young child came in to order a kebab and the man behind the counter kept playing janken with the child until they finally won, which was a nice insight into the shop’s spirit of generosity.

With tasty kebabs and a fun game on the side, this little store adds a dash of fun and excitement to every order, making it a memorable stop for a bite to eat… and a round of rock-paper-scissors.

Store information

ROSE Janken Kebab / ROSEジャンケン ケバブ 新松戸本店
Address: Chiba-ken, Matsudo-shi, Shin-Matsudo 1-482, Moriya Building 1F
千葉県松戸市新松戸 1-482 森谷ビル 1F
Open: 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
Closed: New Year’s holidays

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