Maid Cafés in Akihabara (Tokyo)

Posted on May 15, 2007 by Jamie

Have you ever heard of a “maid café”? I bet not. Only in Japan!

While maid cafés are everywhere in Japan, Akihabara in Tokyo is famous for them. Akihabara is the electronics capital of Tokyo and is a focal point for electronics and anime maniacs (also known as otaku). When you exit Akihabara station, you will meet many maids handing out flyers for their respective cafés. I highly recommend that you go to one, if only just the experience. It’s not everyone’s ‘cup of tea’, haha pardon the pun. However, it is a very unique café experience.

When you enter the café, a young woman will greet you “Okaerinasaimase, goshujin-sama” (Japanese for “welcome home, Master”). The waitresses will all be dressed in Lolita fashion, as a French maid, or as an anime characters. I met one dressed as a mikosan (staff at a shrine) with cat ears and a tail! Some have menus and other cafés have ticket machines. The maid will curtsey for you (which is distinctly different from a Japanese bow). When she brings your order, she will sit on her knees at your table and add sugar and cream and mix it for you. I think they would even feed you’re a piece of cake if you asked!

There is usually an abundance of anime paraphernalia. For example, small plastic models of popular manga characters – often young women in suggestive poses. Sometimes there are TVs with anime playing, while other TVs are hooked up to an Xbox or some entertainment system. In some places, you can play against a maid, and if you win enough number of times, they will give you a 500 yen coupon.

Personally, I do not understand the whole attraction. This is probably due to the fact I’m not Japanese. While that may seem obvious, I should point out the fact that Japanese people often do not use English (even if they know a little). Thus, as a foreigner there is a significant language barrier. The subtleties in the maids’ language are completely lost on me. If she calls me master and uses the highest honorific in Japanese, it would be the same as if she was speaking like a normal waitress. However, Japanese men notice the linguistic change, and apparently, it is very alluring for some.

‘Sex’ has always been a strong advertising strategy. In Canada we have Hooters and other bars with sexy waitresses. However, I believe maid cafés target a very specific group. Apparently, a maid café opened recently in Toronto. It is popular within the local Asian community, but many Canadians (especially women) feel that the idea of submissive waitresses is degrading. Their success in Japan can only be attributed to a substantial cultural difference.