26.02.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Too much time in maid cafes = moe poisoning
This must be a record. I counted, and I now have 15 full membership cards at Cos-Cha. Actually, 14 full and two half full. 20 stamps per membership card, 1000 yen per stamp. Add it up and see: I go to maid cafes too often. My life is over...
記録的な数ではないかと。やはり、私のメイド喫茶中毒は記録的かも。人生ｵﾜﾀ ＼(＾o＾)／
Tags: Maids Akihabara Otaku 2 Comments
21.02.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Kaiju/Musume Event in Akihabara
Kaiju/Musume
In the heartland of anime, manga and games, Akihabara, Schatz Kiste is a maid cafe dedicated to spreading Akihabara's culture to Japan and the world. And now, indie soft vinyl kaiju are invading!
Kaiju and Cute Girls
Shock and Moe
Old-School Japan and Modern Akiba
3D and 2D
What will happen when these elements come together? The only thing guaranteed is that it's definitely something you don't want to miss!
Featured creators will be bringing new original figures for display and sale, and original photography and illustrations featuring a blend of Kaiju and Akiba culture will be on display. Creators will also be stopping in periodically through the week so guests can get a first-hand view of the creative process and inspiration behind their creations.
Featured makers:
Blobpus
Dr. Strange Toys
ILANENA
Monstock!!
Velocitron
Vinyl Junkies
Yamazakura
Opening Party: Feb 26, 19:30
Gallery runs until March 6
Akihabara Culture Cafe Schatz Kiste
「怪獣／娘」
アニメ・漫画・ゲームを始めとした色々な「秋葉原カルチャー」を体験して一日中熱く語れるカフェ「シャッツキステ」にインディーズ怪獣ソフビが集結！！
「怪獣」と「美少女」
「怪奇」と「萌え」
「下町」と「秋葉原」
「3次元」と「2次元」
こんなような絶対混ぜられない物を混ぜてみようとしたらいったいどうなるだろう？ 確かなのはこれだけ：絶対つまらないわけありません。
オリジナルインディーズ怪獣ソフビ、イラスト、写真を展示します。参加メーカーの方が来場したり、ソフビの販売も予定しています。
参加ソフビメーカー
BLObPUS
Dr. Strange Toys
Ilanena
Monstock!!
Velocitron
Vinyl Junkies
山桜
オープニングパーティー 2月26日（金）19：30〜
最終日：3月6日（土）
秋葉原カルチャーカフェ 「シャッツキステ」
15.02.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Yokoso! Japan ad features maid
I just saw this in Shinjuku Station. Didn't give it much thought, but something compelled me to take a closer look. Morbid curiosity. And upon closer inspection, I noticed a maid, right behind the kimono girl to the left, and closely associated with a geisha. It is funny how brazen all of this has become, especially since maids are neither Japanese nor otaku culture. It was a small boom in Akihabara promoted almost accidently by media (details here). Now otaku avoid them, and tourism has been winding down since 2006 or 2007. And yet here a maid stands, right at the center of the Cool Japan image. This of course isn't the first time the government has used popular culture (Puffy has been on signs for years).
Maids, too, have appeared in the past. But not alongside fish mongers, sumo and sushi chefs and other great symbols of Japanese culture. I get the feeling something is amiss here. Oh, and here is one for Hakone with Ayanami Rei on it. I like the way she is associated with Mt. Fuji (=Japan).
Tags: Cool Japan CM Maids 2 Comments
04.12.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Catholic school does maid cafe, and it's sexy
A friend sent me this from her school festival at Sophia University, a Jesuit school in central Tokyo. These girls picked up on the maid concept, but my goodness how they drew out the sexual undertones! I wonder what their spiritual advisors said about this? Seriously, it's like body parts - a body so sexed up it is broken down into parts. Is this how people see maid cafes? I hope not...
Tags: Maids 3 Comments
27.10.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Taiwan's maid cafe
Just came across this place mat from Fatimaid, a maid cafe in Taiwan. It caused quite a ruckus back in 2006, and seems to still be going strong. Awesome!
台湾のメイド喫茶、Fatimaidからのものです！向こうに行ってきた友達が見せてくれましたので、写真を撮ってみました。
Tags: Maids International 0 Comments
18.10.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Dating sims are the source of maids
I have argued in my discussion of maids and maid cafes that dating simulator games (or bishoujo games, if you prefer) are the source. Specifically,
The game was so popular that Tokyo Character Show in August 1998 featured "Pia Carrot Restaurant." It was a hit, and on July 22, 1999, Gamer's opened a more permanent establishment on the 6th floor of their store in Akihabara. When it closed, fans were so upset that the shop reopened it, then closed and reopened it again. In May 2000, Cafe du Cospa opened, which later was replaced by Cure Maid Cafe in February 2001. The influence of "Welcome to Pia Carrot" on all this cannot be underestimated.
On a visit to a fellow maid cafe enthusiast's house, I was once again reminded of the vaulted place of "Pia Carrot." First, on his shelf just happened to be three maid figures: Pia Carrot, Cos-cha and Pinafore. The resemblance is remarkable. Elements of the original Pia Carrot design appear in both these iconic maid outfits.
Next, he had two cans of coffee lined up - Pia Carrot Coffee and @home cafe Coffee. The way both maids are standing, the design of their uniforms - all almost a perfect match. Maybe no one else is interested in this, but for me it was a flash of lightning, a eureka moment. Thank you, Pia Carrot, for bringing the world such joy!
Tags: Moe Dating Simulators Maids 0 Comments
09.07.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
CafeDoll Tokyo becomes Doll Tokyo AV Actress Cafe
The maid cafe was replaced by something akin to a hostess bar. Sexy chicks who appear in Japanese porn are available for chat and drinks. The price is mighty high, too. (Click second image to see.) I know that the maid cafe market is saturated while sex always sells, but I can't help but feel discouraged by this sign of the times. Is AV really what Akiba needs more of? It makes it all the more bitter that CafeDoll Tokyo was a favorite of Lani Lee, who was with Otaku2 last year. Her review is here. I also saw that one of my favorite spots, the venerable Cafe Corona in the Radio Center, has finally closed. ortz
07.06.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Alice in Wonderland Event
Venerable cosplay pub Little BSD in Akihabara was transformed into a scene from Alice in Wonderland on June 7. A group of eight, including six from a maid cafe in Ikebukuro, borrowed the space for a one day event
"Everyone knows Alice in Wonderland and the costumes are cute," said Tachibana Wataru, who planned the event along with Yanagi Mao. "We didn't want to do just a normal maid cafe, but something with a theme."
Tachibana and Yanagi came up with the idea while drinking six months ago, and after the success of the first experience might do it again.
"Of course we are in Akihabara, so many men interested in maid cafes came," Tachibana explained. "But the image is really cute, so lots of women came too."
The cast agreed.
"All women like the vibe of Alice in Wonderland," said Celicia, who dressed as the Queen of Hearts. She added that the cast was comprised of dedicated cosplayers, making it doubly fun for them.
The food and drink was average maid cafe fare, with some nice sweets and themed options such as the Alice Tea Party Set. The real appeal was talking to average girls who got out of the maid cafe and made it big(ger) on their own. Way to go!
Photos by Adrian A. Lozano.
Tags: Maids Akihabara Otaku 0 Comments
08.05.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Maid cafe 'Akiba' in Hiroshima!?
We all know that maid cafes, or what passes for them, can be a little shady outside of Akihabara. At last count, their were 217 maid establishments in Japan, and not all clients are looking to idolize moe characters from a far. A cursory online image search or trip to the local video shop reveals the maid costume is often treated as a sort of erotic cosplay and moe mild eroticism, however much diehard may disagree. This image is a great example - a "maid cafe" called "Akiba" smack in the middle of the red light district in Hiroshima. All the signs of good clean otaku fantasy and fun are there, but I wonder if the services are even remotely similar... Thanks to Erika Alpert for the picture! If anyone else has something to share, let us know!
Tags: Maids Tourism Weird 0 Comments
30.04.2009 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Gunnar takes on @home Cafe and @gumi head on!
Gunnar our fellow otaku in denial visits @home Cafe and lives through an Otagei pit to tell about it.
Great to see Hiyochan in the spot lite, she is one of the few original @home maids left.
03.04.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
@home notes hours of English-speaking maids
This is pretty cool, and just in time for summer travel. I know that more and more tourists are coming, but I didn't think @home would ever get with the program. I remember translating their drink menu for them in 2007, and now they have finally come to this. May the whole world come and enjoy a maid cafe experience!
Tags: Maids Tourism 0 Comments
17.11.2008 · by Adrian A. Lozano
Nekomimi is so last year make way for Tatamimimi in 2009!
Well I seriously don't think nekomimi 猫耳 is going anywhere in the near future, but I have to admit I like this poster of these two maids with Tatamimimi 畳耳. You would think these posters would be plastered around Akihabara, but I found this posted down the street from Bandai's main office in Kuramae. Even the tatami isn't immune to Moe 萌!!!!!!!!!!
Tags: Maids 0 Comments
10.07.2008 · by Ein
Akiba Maid Casino at Summer Sonic
The popular Maid Casino called "Akiba Guild" has announced that it will have an official booth during at the Summer Sonic Festival 2008.
Summer Sonic is a music festival that is host to many local and international acts. Coming in as a second after Fuji Rock Festival, Summer Sonic had about 180,000 visitors in 2007 and has experienced rising ticket sales ever since it was first held in 2000.
The booth will be placed in the special "Sonic until morning" section, a spot reserved for all night DJ's and film screenings, and will enable the guest to engage in Black Jack and Roulette games. Just like in the original casino in Akihabara customers will not be able to win money but rather recieve the usual gifts and presents like cheki, stickers etc. as it is custom in most proper japanese maid cafe establishments.
The owner of Akiba Guild and the Organizer of the Summer Sonic festival have stated that they expect a huge party where the customers will enjoy fun games together with the staff.
This seems like an interesting new step into an area outside of the ususal Akihabara culture
Note: unconfirmed rumours have stated that the SS08 organizer and the Akiba Guild owner came up with the idea during a drinking session
Source: AKIBA Today
Tags: Maids 0 Comments
