Maid Cafe Opens in NYC

[Glassfan]

Did they import Asian women to work in the New York place? Or aren't there any Asian-American women living in New York?

I had initially assumed they were like our local Chinese restaurants - 1st Generation Chinese immigrant families and their children - with "old world" values. Examining their website, all the girls seem to be named "Reiku" this and that without specific bios, and a lot of the writing is Kanji.

IMO, certainly none of the women of my personal acquantance, including two Asian Americans, would ever do anything so demeaning.

yeah, well the customer is also the master in the relationship at, say, Nobu. Or Applebees, if you like...

The customer is the patron, not the master. In America it's service, not servitude.

 

[Cutlass]

I was immediately reminded of the Hooters Class-Action-Lawsuit. These appear to be Japanese girls in the story at this first store. It would be difficult to imagine this kind of thing catching-on here with our NYC cultural snobs and feminists. It is a bit creepy, even on youtube. Could you see American women doing this? Inner city Black chicks? Uptown white girls with Bronx-accents?

Actually, I can. If the pay is good enough. Hooters doesn't have trouble finding waitresses. Las Vegas casinos have no trouble finding hostesses. Nudie bars have no trouble finding strippers. And no one has any trouble finding hookers.

First, the social conventions aren't what they used to be. There's no shortage of young women willing to exploit sexuality for a paycheck, or even for fun. Second, the job market sucks for the young and inexperienced.

This may have limited appeal in the US, and be confined to the biggest cities. But their problem won't be in finding women to do the work, I don't think.

 

[bugwar]

Which means there's something creepy about telling the truth.

I think that only happens when your comments conflict with the world view of your social group.

If the crowd you hang with is uncomfortable with the truth, time to get a new crowd.

 

[mangxema]

I don't think folks get called "master" at hooters.

I wonder if something is being lost in translation. We both know that people get 'sir'-ed in the South all the time, based on how some people were raised. It seems possible to me that a culture that's big on respect might use 'master' in a more innocuous context.

 

[Ajidica]

I'm getting the feeling something was lost in translation. I don't remember servants in period Costume Dramas calling their employer 'master', only 'sir'.

 

[Borachio]

I'm baffled.

Apart from the cutsey aspects, how is having waitresses dressed up in cartoon maid costume any different from having them dressed up as waitresses?

Still, I'd happily pay good money for the privilege of not going into one of these places.

 

[BvBPL]

I think that only happens when your comments conflict with the world view of your social group.

If the crowd you hang with is uncomfortable with the truth, time to get a new crowd.

Can't do that. If I ran from people uncomfortable with telling the truth I would be a hermit.

Case in point, there's a story about a gay NJ waitress whose customers did not tip her because she's gay. On the receipt was written "I'm sorry but I cannot tip because I do not agree with your lifestyle and how you live your life."

The local news picked up the story, but they specifically blurred out the name of the customer on the credit card receipt. The news was uncomfortable with demonstrating the truth and choose to omit it.

Truth is certainly a virtue, but that doesn't mean that we should run from those who do not embrace it fully.

 

[JollyRoger]

I don't think folks get called "master" at hooters.

Hooters gals say the darnedest things if the tip is big enough.

 

[Crezth]

I wonder if something is being lost in translation. We both know that people get 'sir'-ed in the South all the time, based on how some people were raised. It seems possible to me that a culture that's big on respect might use 'master' in a more innocuous context.

Oh, that it were. In Japan, the greeting phrase is "Okaerinasaimase, goshujinsama!" which literally means "Welcome [home], master," where "master" is also the word for husband ("shujin")*. Meido kafe were designed to appeal to otaku fantasies so it's not just an innocent cultural quirk.

That's not to say America is a lot better. Anyway, +1 to the guy who mentioned hooters.

*And it's not all that innocuous. Japanese women are well-aware of the implications, hence an insistence in recent years on using the term "otto" which also means husband... 'cept without the insinuations that "shujin" packs which aren't limited to "master" (think "owner," "lord," etc).

 

[Quackers]

You have studied Japanese in your spare time Crezth?

 

[Crezth]

I am currently working in Japan, yes.

 

[householder]

The news story mentioned that cat cafes are also big in Japan. Not in the sense of waitresses dressed as neko-girls, but actual cats roaming (or sleeping) around the restaurant.

I suppose the US will have trouble getting these, due to sanitation worries. However, a similar cafe in Austria was able to overcome those hurdles (after much perseverance.)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2146121/Cat-cafe-Austria-leave-purring-pleasure.html

I would frequent a cat cafe, although I think I would avoid the maid cafe. The latter is very cute, perhaps too cute. I would avoid Hello Kitty cafes, too. Cute overload is hard to take.

I worry a bit for the safety of the young women in the NYC maid cafe. I wonder if American men might be less respectful of personal boundaries, than are Japanese men.

 

[BvBPL]

Cats are disgusting beasts only suitable for use in tennis racquets.

As for the NYC maid café, I guess it is located in Chinatown. Which may or may not make it more safe or something. I dunno.

 

[Perfection]

I worry a bit for the safety of the young women in the NYC maid cafe. I wonder if American men might be less respectful of personal boundaries, than are Japanese men.

I would seriously doubt it. Japanese men can be very misogynistic.

 

[IglooDame]

Wait! I forgot about NYC's TVs. They'd be perfect...

Indeed, they'd do it for free in their spare time. Talk about your win-win...

 

[peter grimes]

Actually, I can. If the pay is good enough. Hooters doesn't have trouble finding waitresses.

They do in New York. Any attractive woman who can handle being a decent server won't work at Hooters because they can work just about anywhere else for better pay and better working environment. Hooters here has a very high turn-over rate - it's the place women who are new to the city work for a couple months in order to get that 'New York City" experience that all future employers unfairly demand.

Hooters in other cities may get the creme de la creme, but definitely not here.

As for this 'Maid Cafe', I checked it out on Yelp. My impressions from the yelp reviews are definitely at odds with the opinions formed based on the comments in this thread!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/maid-cafe-ny-new-york

I went for a visit the other day since I heard that a maid cafe finally opened in the city. I'd like to point out that the name of this establishment is a little misleading. For those of us that know of the maid cafe culture in Japan, you'll find yourself a little disappointed that the none of the maids serve you to your seat. They don't play games with you either, or chant spells for your food to taste great. (Lol shhh dont ask) So don't come in expecting all that.

However, if you're not looking for the real maid cafe experience, this cute little shop should be enough for you. It's basically just like a cafe where you order at the counter staffed by really cute maids.

I stop by to finally try out some dessert it advertise. Tried green tea crepe and green tea cheese cake.
green tea crepe is horrible, dry, colorless and flavorless. I got really spoil by the great expensive $8-9 green tea crepe from gyu kaku and lady M, but this is not even a dessert, I like the 2 dot of whip cream on the side better than the crepe itself. Now that is a problem.
green tea cheesecake is only okay, more flavor than the crepe, but not great enough for a 2nd slice.
No maid singing in case if anyone looking for a meow meow song.

The vast majority of the reviews appear to be written by women. So, that's something...

 

[JollyRoger]

Maid in America

USA #1

 

[Perfection]

Masterful post, JR.

 

[GoodEnoughForMe]

Pfft, Detroit had one of these a few years back. Some girls from Youmacon got together and started one.

I'd feel really uncomfortable at them and certainly have some misgivings regarding the type of service and weird cultural adoption, but the US ones are generally pretty tame. In most cases it really is just a restaurant with different décor and the maids bowing and being especially gratuitous in offering thanks.

 

[Quackers]

I am currently working in Japan, yes.

Are you a meganerd who enjoys Japanese culture (no offense intended)? It would explain an awful lot