TOKYO — “Master, mistress — welcome home!” exclaims the smiling young woman in a French maid’s costume, as customers pass through the looking glass into a unique Japanese world with oodles of quirkiness, cuteness and cake. These “maid cafes” — inspired by the traditional maid outfit that has long been a motif in Japanese pop culture — have evolved from niche subculture hangouts 20 years ago into a mainstream attraction for people of all ages and genders. And staff working there insist that the experience is not in any way designed to titillate, saying it is meant to be a wholly innocent family-friendly experience. “I’ve been fighting against prejudice for 22 years,” Hitomi, a “maid” in Tokyo’s Akihabara neighbourhood where the cafes started, told AFP. “Little remarks can be hurtful… In those moments, I tell myself that what we do isn’t yet sufficiently understood.” Waitresses, wearing a short dress, petticoat, pinafore and hair accessory, serve brightly coloured drinks or twee delights like a dish called “Wan Wan! Puppy Curry Rice” (made with beef) or “Cutie Toy Poodle Cake.” Bu
‘Geek’ hangout to tourist draw: Japan’s maid cafes
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