are the anime expo maid cafes worth it

What is Anime Expo’s maid café?

Inspired by the maid cafes of Akihabara, Anime Expo’s Maid Café has been one of our most popular events. Our cute and courteous maids are ready to entertain you, whether they break out in song and dance or settle in with your table to play a game.

Who are the professors at Anime Expo?

Professors David F. Lopez, Elliott Jones, and John Marr return to AX in this ALL NEW panel, as they dig deeper into her diverse, fascinating, yet always engaging music! Inspired by the maid cafes of Akihabara, Anime Expo’s Maid Cafe is one of our most popular events.

What's happening to maid cafes?

Despite their ubiquity in anime, however, they feel representative of a previous generation of otaku, with their emphasis on “ moe ” (a word people don't really say anymore) and cheerfully cheesy displays of servitude. Yet unbeknownst to many, maid café culture has been undergoing a sea change in the recent COVID years.

What makes Akihabara’s maid cafés so special?

For anyone with a keen interest in anime subculture, the maid cafés of Akihabara need no introduction. Despite their ubiquity in anime, however, they feel representative of a previous generation of otaku, with their emphasis on “ moe ” (a word people don't really say anymore) and cheerfully cheesy displays of servitude.

Is it weird to go to a maid café?

Maid cafes are fun, but they can be a little awkward and it's not for everyone. I've noticed that my male friends especially feel more uncomfortable than the women do. The girls can giggle with the maids and act cute like them.

What's the point of maid cafes?

Maid cafés were originally designed primarily to cater to the fantasies of male otaku – fans of anime, manga and video games. They have been analogized as the otaku's equivalent of hostess bars.

Does Japan actually have maid cafes?

It is said that the first maid café in Japan was CURE MAID CAFE, which opened in 2001 in Akihabara. Later, @HOME CAFÉ opened in 2004. Since then, the culture of the maid café flourished in Akihabara, and it remains the center of this particular culture.

How old do you have to be to enter a maid café?

18+18+ age restriction; must have an 18+ wristband in addition to ticket and badge for entry. No wristband, no entry.

Are maid cafes creepy?

0:299:20Maid Cafes in Japan are TERRIFYING - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThey also often act in such a way that is in line with common anime character tropes. And for manyMoreThey also often act in such a way that is in line with common anime character tropes. And for many of the women who work as maids in the cafes.

Are kids allowed in maid cafes?

There aren't any rules against bringing children. The maids aren't inappropriate.

Is there a male maid café?

All of them are male, wearing wigs to go along with their female uniforms. Male “maid cafes” are growing more common, and books on how to dress like a woman are starting to hit store shelves. Men wearing skirts have also been seen in Tokyo's Harajuku and Aoyama districts.

Why are Japanese people obsessed with maids?

The maid cafes started as a way to cater to Japanese otaku. Maids often appear in anime and manga as a symbol of what many Japanese consider the ultimate woman: attractive, subservient, and best of all, extremely cute.

Are maid cafes expensive in Japan?

How much do maid cafes cost? Unlike typical cafes, where customers might buy a drink and rest for a while, maid cafes charge an entry fee (usually 500-700 yen) per person, plus food or beverage charges. Photographs with the maid staff are also typically available for a minor charge.

What do maids say in maid cafés?

When you order food, drinks, the performance the maid puts on and “good luck chants” (omajinai) are part the entertainment value of Japan's maid cafes. Phrases like “Oishikuna-re” (“Be delicious!” ) or “Moe, Moe, Kyun!” have been heard even by those who haven't visited a maid café, right?

What do maids call their masters in Japan?

If you've ever seen anime (in Japanese) in which the characters go into a maid café, you will no doubt recognize the word that the maids use when addressing customers as they enter the store. It is 主人様 (shujin sama) which is just the word for master with the honorific sama added on to the end of it.

Do you have to be Japanese to work at maid café?

New “Sugoi Kawaii” maid cafe in Akihabara now hiring foreigners! As long as you fill certain requirements, you too can be a maid in Japan. With a tagline that reads, “Of the GAIJIN!