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In the recent years, cosplay restaurants or better known as maid cafe or butler cafe are booming all over Japan. Akihabara or the electric capital of Tokyo, is one of the best place to catch this bizarre experience in Tokyo. Despite the name says 'cafe', the concept of maid cafe presents more like a relaxation center for Otaku (geeks) rather than a place to chow down.

Maid cafes are typically operated by a group of young girls dressed up like French maids with Victorian style pinafore, apron and long stoking. Occasionally, one may see maids with rabbit ears head ban or armed with butcher's knife behind her back. Besides serving food and drinks, each maid cafe usually provides additional services such as singing, taking picture or playing games with 'master'.

We did not do much homework about maid cafe so we just jumped into the first we found. Located at second floor in the heart of Akiba, it is called 'Maid Cafe and Animation Studio'.

We took a lift from ground floor, and it brought us directly to the entrance of this maid cafe. As we entered, we were greeted in Japanese which we barely understand a word. Signaling with my hand for two people, one of the 'maid' ushered us to a table. Soon, we were served with a glass of plain ice-water each and handed with a menu. Serving from drinks to food, thank goodness there was an English version on the menu. We pointed to the 'maid' what we wished to have. I opted for a cup of hot chocolate and it cost me around 800 yen. A glass of iced-mocha for my Significant Other, which almost burned a hole in his pocket when he noticed the bill stated over 1000 yen!

The interesting part was upon serving, two 'maids' came to our table and spoke to us in Japanese but we could hardly understand except replying with 'Wakaranai' (which means 'I do not understand'). Then, they went on with some messages uttered in Japanese (again!) describing with hand action, then composing a heart shape with their fingers and thumbs, placing upon our drinks. Half an hour later we found out that we were supposed to follow after what they were doing when we saw the similar act and treatment performed on a Japanese couple sitting nearby.

In respect of the cafe's signpost stating 'Taking photographs is not allowed', we did not capture any pictures of its interior.

From our observation, we concluded this maid cafe is an animation studio whereby you and your friend could dub your voices to become the 'Master' and the 'Maid' in the anime showed on their two large monitors. With some fee for the recording service, I believe you can take your voice copied DVD home as souvenir from Akihabara!

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