Maid Cafes

This is one of hundreds of 60-second radio spots created by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) for Kansas Public Radio (KPR). The purpose of this outreach program is to introduce the people of Kansas to the culture and current issues of East Asia.Broadcast Transcript: You step into a café. You hear "Welcome home, honorable master" spoken by an attractive young woman wearing a ruffled and flounced maid's uniform. If you aren't involved in one of those Victorian role playing murder mystery games, chances are you're at one of the "maid cafes" in Akihabara, Tokyo's central electronics district. Catering to the mostly male pop culture fans known as otaku, maid cafes are staffed by ingenues standing by to provide tea and sympathy and cake and sandwiches--among other things. The maids will write messages to you in ketchup on your food or give you a foot massage or even clean your ears if that's your pleasure. You might say it's an industry that's "maid" to order for Japan's burgeoning population of lonely, single technophiles. #ceas #hacker #japa