<![CDATA[Kotaku: Maids]]> http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/kotaku.com.png <![CDATA[Kotaku: Maids]]> http://kotaku.com/tag/maids http://kotaku.com/tag/maids <![CDATA[Maids Entice Young Men to Give Blood]]>
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 center. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5885271&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Waitress Uniform That Started It All]]> 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. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5880788&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Snakes on a Plane? No, Japanese Maids on a Train!]]> 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. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5876368&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Depressing World of Unemployed Nerds]]> 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 checks on might differ from what their counterparts do elsewhere. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5855514&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[When The Girls Are Mean, The Customers Are Happy]]> 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. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5794676&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Osaka's Geek District Turning Into Den Of Iniquity]]> Den-Den Town, Osaka's "denkigai" or "electric town", is known for its used game retailers like Super Potato and figure shops like Osaka Gundams. There are also the maid cafes, where folks can get a coffee and talk to a maid. Some, however, are serving way more than coffee. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5761696&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Hang Out In Nerd Paradise (With Maids!)]]> Akihabara. The mere mention of it conjures images of retro game shops, arcades, aisles of manga and maids, yes, maids. Wouldn't it be great to visit them? Like, right now? More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5751634&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Japan Overdoses On Young Maids, Wheels Out Old Maids]]> 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. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5681478&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Playing Wii Fit With A Japanese Maid, A Photo Journey]]> 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. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5395643&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Xbox Game Promoted With Colorful Fizzy Soda]]> This month visual novel Chaos;Head is getting an Xbox 360 port caled Chaos;Head Noah. Slated for a February 26 release, the sci-fi thriller is getting a special Akibahara promotion, complete with soda pop. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5159925&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Play Wii Fit With Japanese Maids]]> You know what's missing with Wii Fit? Nope. It's maids! That's right, maids. Over in Akihabara's Refresh Club, folks can play Wii Fit with maids in frilly dresses. Like most things, Wii Fit maid style comes at a price: 30 minutes will run you ¥2,600 ($US 28). Says the establishment's owner:
Playing Wii Fit by yourself is lonely. But here, playing along with a maid makes exercising enjoyable.
That's a good point, and we're now slightly shocked Nintendo didn't bundle the game with maids. If Wii Fit is not your thing, Refresh Club runs other services like ear cleaning, foot massages and yoga — make that, maid yoga. Refresh Club [Candy Fruit via Akiba Keizai via alafista] More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5057235&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Americans Turn Maid Cafes Into Arty Maid Cafes (Wha?)]]> Maids! No, wait. American maids! That's right, instead of reading about maids, you Americans can go visit them in America. Previously, a maid opened in Canada. Then it closed! And now, another maid cafe is giving North America a go. This month, Royal/T Cafe is having its grand opening in Culver City, Southern California. Though, here's the pickler. The website describes the cafe as a "playful collision of spaces — café/shop/art space — presented in stunning fusion. An eclectic mix of retail and contemporary art reimaged in the surrounds of LA's first Japanese-style cosplay café." That's LA-talk for "Since this café is based on places where Japanese nerds go sip milk tea and play paper-rock-scissors, we've decided to add pretentious artsy-fartsy shit to appeal to American hipsters." More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=378060&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Foreign People Can Maid Cafe, Too]]> Here at Kotaku, we have one rule and one rule only about maids: Post. Above are two maids from Akihabara maid cafe @home. One is Japanese, the other isn't! That's Eva, who became so interested in maid cafes during her visit to Japan, she decided to enlist herself. Besides serving drinks, Eva translates for foreign visitors. Maids don't only entertain nerds with games of rock, paper, scissors, they bridge gaps. International nerd gaps. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=376632&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Osaka's Otaku On Parade]]> 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! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=370983&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Otaku "Singer" Flashes Akihabara]]> Every Sunday in Akihabara, it happens. Girls in maid outfits (and other costumes) sing, dance and stand in the Akiba streets and sidewalks. Some of them attract some crowds, some of them attract large crowds. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is starting to crackdown for "safety" reasons in accordance with traffic laws. "I have no real understanding of what standards they're using to drive the maids off the streets. I could understand if they were dressed in schoolgirls' swimsuits or costumes that flash a lot of skin, but maid outfits are nothing like that," says economic analyst and Akiba lover Takuro Morinaga. Thing is, it's not just maids. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=368517&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Tommy Lee Jones Plays with Maid]]>
In a series of Boss coffee ads, Tommy Lee Jones plays "Alien Jones" as he tromps around Japan, learning about life on Earth. In the latest spot, he's landed in otaku ground zero, Akihabara, and learns the meaning of moe from a spoon-feeding maid. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=352087&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Cross Dressing Akihabara Maid Cafe]]> We have one rule about non-game related maid content: POST. (Indulge us, it's late and After Dark!) That picture you are looking at? That's a dude. No, really. That's a maid at Akihabara maid cafe Hibaritei, where the entire staff consists of men dressed as maids. The cafe opens only a few times a month at irregular times at other established maid cafes. The reason? All the cross dressing maids are dudes with other jobs (one guy is a writer, another is a model). The owner of Hibaritei came up with the idea when some men dressed in drag when there was a shortage of female maids at a cafe he owned previously. This is the maid cafe equivalent of Guilty Gear's Bridget! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=344838&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Hey Shoppers, Get Help from Japanese Maids!]]> Don't speak the lingo? First time visitors to Japan might find the experience overwhelming. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone guide you around? Someone in a maid outfit? For the past year or two, information counters like this have popped up in Akihabara. This particular one appeared during the New Year's holidays for the foot traffic crowds. Typically, info counters like this have pamphlets and maps of the area. I know the information counter in Den-Den has English maps, so I'd imagine that this one does as well! Don't count on fluent English directions though. Still, helpful. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=341410&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[PS3 Japanese Maid Service Taxi Outta Gas]]> The greatest taxi in Japan is no more. Back in September, we brought word that the cleverly named "Maid Taxi" was offering a, well, US $50 an hour maid taxi service that let passengers ride around town in a PS3-equipped cab and play Hot Shots Golf 5 with a maid. Since the taxi was licensed as a social-welfare taxi and could only transport handicapped or injured people, apparently a flood of phonies faked injuries to take a ride. The taxi service was risking breaking the law by carrying fakers and didn't have a definite way to discern if the passenger was lying or not. So, the company decided to ditch the service altogether! Social-welfare taxi? Perhaps they should've licensed their taxi company as a regular taxi company... More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=339883&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Greatest Taxi In Japan]]> Over in Ishikawa Prefecture, a taxi company is offering a maid taxi service, appropriately called "Maid Taxi" (so clever). 5,700 yen (US $50) an hour gets you a chauffeur, a maid and a PS3 equipped cab that comes with Virtual Fighter 5, Ridge Racer 7 and Hot Shots Golf 5. Passengers can also watch DVDs and listen to MDs. Mini Discs? That's so 1998! The catch? The service is for handicapped customers only, which is very cool. Beats taking the bus or the train! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=303625&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clip: Hands On With Konami's Gradius/Boob Shooter]]>
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]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=252439&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clip: Akihabara Retail Rap]]>
Humor me. This is *not* gaming related, but pure otaku. In Japan, shop staff often stand out front, droning into mics and making announcements about what products they are selling in hopes of enticing customers. In Akihabara, they do things a little different. Patrick Macias spotted this glasses store employee rapping about contacts, sunglasses and hearing ads. Yes, RAPPING. Blogs Macias: More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=247950&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Build A Better Maid On Your Japanese Keitai]]>
Starring Iroha the Maid from Samurai Spirits, this self-titled SNK cellphone lets players turn Iroha into the greatest maid in the world. How you may ask? By setting schedules and tests for her. Not only that, but also increase her five stats: love, intellect, physical strength, manner and figure. Yes, Japanese maids need not only to be smart and have big jubblies, but strong as an ox! Iroha is SNK's poster child of late: There is also a DS scheduling "game" called Techou Maid Techo that features Iroha and a hundred different outfits. Talk about being a clothes horse! Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=228658&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Akihabara's Tip Top Maid Cafes]]>
For residents and visitors, here's a guide to Akihabara's maid cafes. There's the cathedral St. Grace's Court with its maids dressed like Bridget from Guilty Gear and the PS3 maid cafe Little PSX, which we've featured before. Other mentions are the bear-eared Cos-Cha vixens, the foot massaging Mai Relax and the prim and proper aromatherapy Melty Cure. God, feet, scent therapy and the PS3 — Something for everyone. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=227240&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Clips: Fake Wii-mote, Japanese Maids, Wrestling]]>
How do you get a nation hypnotized by Nintendo back into pro wrestling? Got me, but this is what Kansai International Pro-Wrestling is doing. This ad to show wrestling's better than gaming is so darn goofy, it's charming. And that in the maid's hand? It no Wii-mote, but kamaboko. Brilliant! Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=223502&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Talks To Maids! Play PS3! Otaku Heaven!!]]>
What's better than buying a PLAYSTATION 3? Paying to rent a PS3 and Japanese maid, that's what! Akihabara's maid cafe LittlePSX has apparently secured a handful of consoles for customers to enjoy. PS3-ing and then taking a Polaroid with a maid costs 400 yen (US $3.40). Eating a plate of curry rice while (yes, WHILE) playing the PS3 is 800 yen ($6.79). And just you and the machine is 200 yen ($1.70). Play is for one hour, and games include Resistance, Ridge Racer 7 and Gundam. Customers can bring their own as well! More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=215187&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Hey Gaijin! Maid Cafes Are Good For Self-Promotion]]>
Humor me. This isn't strictly game related, but it's the first I've heard of a foreign "celeb" using a maid cafe for self-promotion. Hence my excitement and desire to share. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=209700&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Meaning of Maids]]>
One of my favorite Japan writers Patrick Macias hosts a look at Akihabara's maid cafes for NHK. It's a bit for noobs, but Patrick's screaming "moe" makes it worth a look. Brian Ashcraft More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=209329&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[TGS06: Pity The Maid Man]]> I don't know what Eleven Up does, but I suspect that they make crap software. I also can safely assume that the man in the maid outfit either lost a bet, pulled the short straw, or is filling in for someone who called in sick. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=202764&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Heaven or Hell? The Guilty Gear Maid Cafe]]>
Akihabara's Maid in Japan cafe has forced four of its staffers to wear Bridget from Guilty Gear costumes. The cafe also has playable Guilty Gear games and a special GG tea and cake set. This all means these women are dressed as a dude with a girly name who dresses as a chick. Trippy. More »
]]> http://kotaku.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=191155&view=rss&microfeed=true