Butlers Cafe
Encyclopedia
is a restaurant and bar located in Shibuya
, Tokyo
, one of Japan
's leading fashion centers. The cafe opened in 2006 and spawned from a recent wave of or that have opened up in and around Tokyo, though predominantly in Akihabara
. Butlers Cafe is one of a few butler
theme cafes in Tokyo but as of July 2008 is the sole cafe hiring only foreign men as staff. The cafe serves a menu consisting of mainly Italian
food, desserts and a range of teas and alcoholic beverages. It was designed for women in Tokyo who "need a bit of fun and excitement in their lives" said the cafe's owner.
culture in Japan since they first sprouted in Akihabara, Tokyo's electronic and anime
goods shopping center around 2000. These, and other theme cafes of similar nature have become increasingly popular in Japan and more recently in other countries throughout the world. Since opening, the cafe has attracted over 2,000 frequent customers and has appeared in several publications and media articles. In July 2008 it was featured in a story by CNN
which focussed on the social aspect of Japanese society as to why such a cafe is something that Japanese women have been searching for.
. The butlers treat the customers in a cordial manner by opening doors, taking coats and pulling out chairs, and tiara
s are even presented with their meal. The butlers, down on bended knee, play games and, when desired, engage in English
conversation as entertainment for the "princesses." A lift me up photo is even on the menu in which the customer can be lifted by the butler of her choice for a picture they later print out. Western-style fantasies have long been popular in Japan, an example being the large success of the Tokyo Disneyland
and Tokyo DisneySea
theme parks since they opened in 1983 and 2001. The butlers are foreign males, often in their 20's and ideally "cute, cheerful and sweet."
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, one of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's leading fashion centers. The cafe opened in 2006 and spawned from a recent wave of or that have opened up in and around Tokyo, though predominantly in Akihabara
Akihabara
, also known as , is an area of Tokyo, Japan. It is located less than five minutes by rail from Tokyo Station. Its name is frequently shortened to in Japan...
. Butlers Cafe is one of a few butler
Butler
A butler is a domestic worker in a large household. In great houses, the household is sometimes divided into departments with the butler in charge of the dining room, wine cellar, and pantry. Some also have charge of the entire parlour floor, and housekeepers caring for the entire house and its...
theme cafes in Tokyo but as of July 2008 is the sole cafe hiring only foreign men as staff. The cafe serves a menu consisting of mainly Italian
Italian cuisine
Italian cuisine has developed through centuries of social and political changes, with roots as far back as the 4th century BCE. Italian cuisine in itself takes heavy influences, including Etruscan, ancient Greek, ancient Roman, Byzantine, Jewish and Arab cuisines...
food, desserts and a range of teas and alcoholic beverages. It was designed for women in Tokyo who "need a bit of fun and excitement in their lives" said the cafe's owner.
History
The cafe was opened in mid-2006 by Yuki Hirohata, when she said she "came up with the idea during her previous job as an office worker as a way of escaping her workaholic world." Maid cafes have been a staple of otakuOtaku
is a Japanese term used to refer to people with obsessive interests, particularly anime, manga or video games.- Etymology :Otaku is derived from a Japanese term for another's house or family , which is also used as an honorific second-person pronoun...
culture in Japan since they first sprouted in Akihabara, Tokyo's electronic and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
goods shopping center around 2000. These, and other theme cafes of similar nature have become increasingly popular in Japan and more recently in other countries throughout the world. Since opening, the cafe has attracted over 2,000 frequent customers and has appeared in several publications and media articles. In July 2008 it was featured in a story by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
which focussed on the social aspect of Japanese society as to why such a cafe is something that Japanese women have been searching for.
Concept
The concept behind the cafe, Hirohata says, came to her after interviewing "over 200 women" who all told her that Japanese women "want a cafe where the waiters were male, good-looking, will treat them nice, but most importantly were Western." The cafe claims to be a place of "healing"." for women at an affordable price, in which Japanese girls are provided a "safe setting" to interact with foreign men. The cafe attempts to create an atmosphere reminiscent of a western fairy taleFairy tale
A fairy tale is a type of short story that typically features such folkloric characters, such as fairies, goblins, elves, trolls, dwarves, giants or gnomes, and usually magic or enchantments. However, only a small number of the stories refer to fairies...
. The butlers treat the customers in a cordial manner by opening doors, taking coats and pulling out chairs, and tiara
Tiara
A tiara is a form of crown. There are two possible types of crown that this word can refer to.Traditionally, the word "tiara" refers to a high crown, often with the shape of a cylinder narrowed at its top, made of fabric or leather, and richly ornamented. It was used by the kings and emperors of...
s are even presented with their meal. The butlers, down on bended knee, play games and, when desired, engage in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
conversation as entertainment for the "princesses." A lift me up photo is even on the menu in which the customer can be lifted by the butler of her choice for a picture they later print out. Western-style fantasies have long been popular in Japan, an example being the large success of the Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland
is a 115 acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, near Tokyo. Its main gate is directly adjacent to both Maihama Station and Tokyo Disneyland Station. It was the first Disney park to be built outside of the United States and opened on April 15, 1983...
and Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo DisneySea
is a 176-acre theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort located in Urayasu, Chiba, Japan, just outside Tokyo. It opened on September 4, 2001. It is owned by The Oriental Land Company, which licenses the theme from The Walt Disney Company. Tokyo DisneySea attracted an estimated 12 million visitors in...
theme parks since they opened in 1983 and 2001. The butlers are foreign males, often in their 20's and ideally "cute, cheerful and sweet."