Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2010

Star Kebab/Derebey Co., Ltd.

It seems like nothing is sacred these days—not even the kebab, that late-night post-drinking gut-filler par excellence. To celebrate its 11th anniversary, Akihabara institution Star Kebab (1-8-10 Soto-Kanda, Chiyoda-ku; www.kebab.co.jp) commissioned voice actress and illustrator Toromi, famous for devising a manga mascot for a temple in Hachioji, to create a similar character for the Turkish fast food business. The result? Kebabutan, a wide-eyed little girl swathed in a pink belly-dancing outfit, armed with a sword and accompanied by the cutest skewer of meat you’ve ever seen. While Star Kebab reportedly doesn’t have any big things in mind for Kebabutan, eager fans can now rack up points on stamp cards decorated with the mascot.