JapanSugoi

The Japanese or more specifically, Akihabara Maid Cafe メイドカフェ culture is one that needs a little more explanation for foreigners interested in Japanese pop culture.

The cafes are regular cafes in that they serve food and drink however the Japanese women dressed up as  waitresses in French maid or lolita costumes use honorific language towards customers such as “Welcome home, Master お帰りなさいませ、ご主人様” . The staff treat the customers as masters in a private home rather than merely as cafe customers and this is part of the Otaku fantasy.

Aside from food and drinks, the maids offer extra services such hair washing, ear-cleaning, (fully clothed) massages or discussing the latest anime/manga. The fantasy of dressing up also appeals to some adult women who enjoy anime, video games and like cosplay.

In the following Japanese TV clips from NHK’s entertaining Tokyo Eye program (with Chris Peppler, Patrick Macias and Susan Iwamoto), they investigate Akihabara Maids Cafes and Staying at a Ryokan (Japanese Inn)

Tokyo Eye Part 1

Tokyo Eye Part 2