When I heard what they were filming I was sure to ask if I could tag along! NHK WORLD/jibtv program Tokyo Eye made a visit to Akihabara to visit the global center of otaku culture and bargain electronics shopping. In the first of the two part episodes we were introduced to Akihabara's great shopping opportunities. Part two, though had my curiousity slightly more peaked. The show uncovered many different Maid Cafes, the range of them truly surprising.
Now for those of you who don't know what a maid cafe is... hmmm... how do I explain this? A maid cafe is a coffee shop where young ladies dressed in maid costumes treat their guests as honored visitors. They use only the most polite language and make the customer feel as though they are practically visiting royalty.
But this episode of Tokyo Eye uncovered so much more. At one cafe featured in the program, the maids are actually quite rude to the guests, only becoming kind when the customer is about to leave. At which point they have a total personality shift, apologize for their bad behavior and beg the customer to stay. Yet another cafe has the customer face off in a contest of rock, paper, scissors with the Maid. If he loses he'll be foreced to drink a disgusting mix of milk natto and seaweed. But if he wins, he can drink a delicious drink!
The concepts behind maid cafes have really begun to individualize and break off into different directions. One cafe visited in the show is a recreation of Taisho era Japan (1912-1926) with staff who claim to have come directly through time and space from that period in history. Decorations are authentic and the atmospehere serene so customers can unwind in a time and place long ago.
If you ask me all of this Maid business is a little bit strange! Thats why I am so glad I went along for the adventure. What a wonderful, wacky place Akihabara is! Check it out for yourself on Wednesday the 9th here on jibtv.com!
