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Sunday Comics: Dead Island In Japan, you expect to see maids in cute cafes, slinging coffee and rice omelets. But for two days earlier this week, they popped up in an unexpected location: a blood donation centre. This winter the blood donated for transfusions is short. That’s why a centre in Fukuyama decided to bring in four young maids in hopes of attracting young men to donate blood.
For a generation, Anna Miller’s was more than a coffee shop. For a generation, it inspired video games, anime and countless cosplay. For a generation, it’s quickly becoming a memory.
In Japan, there are all types of otaku (“geeks”). There are anime otaku, video game otaku, and even train otaku. Otaku from all walks of life seem to like the same thing: maids.
You might have a job. You might be between jobs or you might be out of one entirely. Same goes for many in Japan. But what they spend their unemployment cheques on might differ from what their counterparts do elsewhere.
Japan is famous for its service. Waiters and waitress are attentive and prompt, and they don’t even expect a tip! It’s very easy to get accustomed to. But sometimes good service gets old. Sometimes otaku just want to be treated like crap.
Step off the train at Tokyo’s geek and gaming mecca Akihabara, and you’ll see them: maids. Besides serving cake and coffee at maid cafes, maids pop up in video games, manga and anime. They’re typically young. Not these maids, though.
Early last month, we brought word of a spot in Akihabara called “Refresh Club” where folks can shell out to play Wii with Japanese ladies dressed as maids. Now, website AkibaMap took one for the team and checked it out.
Late last week was the annual “Nipponbashi Street Festa” in Osaka’s nerd village “Den-Den Town.” The main street Sakaisuji was shut down for foot traffic only and the event featured cosplaying, maids and general geekery. I’ve been several times in the past. Good fun! Street Festa Pics Here [Iza via Danny Choo]
