Exploration of the Victorian: Kawaisa Otaku Customers Japanese have always been fascinated with european foods, european history, and european fashion from the old to the new. This is more evident in the fashion scene where gothic lolita has thrived through harajuku tokyo and slowly moved into different directions of sub interests. Dominate sub variations involved: Classic Lolita, Sweet Lolita, and Gothic Lolita. This style was also shown in animanga and had adapted shapes and designs that are apart of Japan’s Kawaii culture or (Kawaisa style). These designs that didn’t fit the description of other types of lolita culture had created another subtype, the “Kawaisa Lolita”. Influential media that led to Kawaisa Lolita were from Animangas, Games, and Cafes, such as; Blazblue, Black Butler, Rozen Maiden, Steel Angel Kurumi, Love Live!, and @Home Cafe. The question had been asked of could you like victorian, roccoco, and edwardian fashion, but also prefer it with a bright and colorful color blocking, high defined designs emblems, accessories and leather in its style to bring something that carves its own name for what it is, “Kawaisa Lolita” subculture of lolita. Many people didn’t care for the flavor and fresh style to the lolita experience and quickly set a line of what was lolita and what was not. It would be opinions that would set a supremacy of lolita origin groups and outsider groups, specifically to target the kawaisa lolita to be alienated from others interested in lolita and set it as its own thing. While in its plan to make a system to segregate otaku from liking lolita things sounds bad for kawaisa lolita it actually had worked in their favor. Segregation was one problem, but involving maid cafes and butler cafes were another problem, and on top of that cooks and other themed jobs of a manor were also being paired under the kawaisa lolita banner. With the term lolita in itself being a fashion for girls there had to have a broader word to shine light on all things in the same theme that was genderless. This had taken Kawaisa Lolita to unexpected have a need to stop competing with one another on better fashion coordinate (coords) and work as a team to form their own system. The system had been created solely based on otaku culture and have Kawaisa Lolita as a sub-system in the overall big picture to expand the people interested in the hobby and to mark it as a genderless hobby to decrease its sexist notion. It moved the fashion from an girls only style to a widened category of “otamanorial style”. This created a genderless term to involve design styles of outfits that were of japanese victorian design that was then also used by those who had previously segregated the kawaisa lolita. This term would be “manorial”, which combined the designs of house masters, maids, butlers, cooks, and gardeners. This ment there were sub versions of each of those designs under the manorial banner: classic manorial, gothic manorial, sweet manorial, and now kawaisa manorial that represented the otaku take on the movement. Otamanor ResidenceEstablishment Focus: Group Direction of Sales Japan: The appearance is based on moe fandom, uniform performances, and peaceful calmness. It communicates cuteness, manor services, and has animanga references. It aims to attract foreigners and loyal otaku to become repeat customers. Western: The appearance is based on food service, vibrantly peaceful, and passionate moe. It communicates as a safe haven for otaku, which has cuteness of moe, and professionalism that brings customers from a wide spread appeal through food. It has animanga references. What is an Otamanor Residence? It is a food restaurant, otaku themed establishment, with a unique touch of otaku hospitality. The establishment is staffed by otaku servicemen. These rolls consist of overseeing shift manager, front of the house maids and butlers, general staff, and back of the house cooks who specialize in takuryori (otaku cuisine). Otamanor Jobs What is the basic job functions and responsibilities of each position? These fall under: Delivery Responsibilities (Cashiering, Money Handling, Table Managing), Culinary Service Responsibilities (Food Assembly, Food Preparation, Food Cooking), Customer Service Responsibilities (Table Hosting, Packing and Plating, Lobby Clean-Up), and Shift Manager (Member Organization, Customer Complaints, and Money Counting). Otaku Service Competition What is an Otaku Service Competition? A collection of teams, serving competitively against each other at the division level by graded judgement terms. These terms are based on the service of excellence executed by staffed specialists resulting in a extremely enjoyable dining experience. This includes: the presentation and flavor of food, the viableness of the menu and business notes, the training, performance of service staff, and... The Moe ResourceWhat is Moe? A burning passion often referred to love of looking up to, praising the success, and product fandom of something or someone. It is not a sexual desire, but it creates the feeling to sigh, relax, or even swoon. Maids create this feeling through appearance and actions of cuteness or innocence, but Butlers entice the feeling through mannerisms or decisiveness. The role is to identify each staff member within the Maids & Butlers as their own character. It is many times both creative and distinctive in word choice, specific accessorizing, or personality, and staff ranking. Comforting Openness & Identifying Guests Needs It is best not to force any type of relationship, but to encourage conversation. Silence is uncomfortable, so a list of questions might let servers know more about their customer to have them open up and feel comfortable with reassurance and heart felt encouragement. A talkative customer may want someone to listen and must be encouraged to feel a maid or butlers attention. A silent customer may seem uninterested, uncomfortable, or not talkative, but may need to be asked questions or told that their decision is that of the maid or butler. Sometimes having rules at the table allow customers to know what they can or can't do. Body Language Communicating The attention to detail with communicating is easily forgotten by a member of the staff, but is a key factor in having a memorable experience. Smiles make people want to smile, especially with hand gestures by any maid or butler. Eye contact is difficult for everyone, but makes customers feels cared for in the several seconds it is held. Hand gestures are needed to be done with confidence and intent for people to know things are serious about service, and those who do not put the effort forward will be seen as uncaring. Note: In many poses in Japan that are done by maids tend to have the elbows close to the hips in many poses. While it is not a restriction to have elbows rest on the hips it gives off a appearance of control and intent. These are part of the aspects of Japanese Culture and Anime Manga makes people attracted to their media or people in their animated and controlled body language. Honesty of Professionalism Speaking clearly Wait for a response Listening by its look Many people fall in love with maids and butlers, because of a experience and care that is taken into action. It is important to refer that things are professional and state that a polite rejection as it isn't in the job of serving master or the lady of the house. The AnibutlerWhat is a Classic Butler? A butler is proud of the uniform and serve customers as their master (goshujin-sama) and/or (ojou-sama). A self respect of a butler is important to customers seeing that staff members have pride in what they do and for their reason of being. With emphasis on details in actions to poses as well as speaking with others. All the details will match the Classic Butler Look. Butlers of the Otaku Culture There has been a growing interest in butlers in Japan, so it is to no surprise that many have been turning up. Butlers in the otaku scene are unlike that of proper butlers who may be the equivalent of that of a french maid and are an act of fantasy and reality of animanga. This allows a new-identity of butler that is befitting of otaku in its unique community. The spotlight has arrived on butler's from the spending power displayed in Ikebukuro towards butler cafes. Elegant layered dress, tailcoats, and many accessories help make each butler different. The types can cater to all sorts of female otaku if personalities fit, like: The boy next door type, little brother type, tsundere type, androgynous type, accepting of eccentrics type, and many more. There are also certain identifying fetishes that butler's can choose to go into to up their likeability, like types of haircuts, glasses or no glasses, or just being groomed like a cosplayer. It's all in a day work for the idea of being a butler. Having a steady interest in pretty boys and those in service and wearing semi european 16th century garb has always been a fantasy in Japan. However, the appearances in designs in animanga have drastically started to form a different appearance from its original inspiration of time era. This would bring us to the idea that is the Taku Butler (Takubutler). It takes the approach of elegance, cuteness, and luxury, which is the male counterpart of the Animanga Maid (Animaid). With no one source of the creation of Taku butlers it is important to take a look at the many inspirations separately. It was said that it began with Victorian, Edwardian, and Rococo with a 16th century setting of british aristocrats, royalty, and those with wealth inheritance. It then had taken some inspirations of gothic lolita fashion, traveling circuses, and butler cafes. This had taken a drastic change when people started to call ikebukuro the maiden road to mark a particular butler cafe “Swallowtail Butler Cafe” that began comparisons to maid cafes and made a mark of takubutler idea standardization. Those who have taken part as a maid or a butler were seen as discarded people of society. People's parents would look down upon the interest or job and even give up on the child if they were devote themselves to their otaku ways. This conscious alienation began to bring together butlers who wanted to create a system that would be both fantasy and blur the lines into reality. Through the door of a butler cafe would be where certain otaku fantasy, otaku experience, and otaku culture could be shared and thrived upon to a growing customer base. Typical acts are to open doors, give a warm welcome, and have formalities of position and destination explained. Waited on hand and foot with a sort of card or bell to be notified a server would come. A smile with a subservient bow, permission asked, and body language of respect to a higher authority. No leering eyes, no creepy touching, and many acts of forgotten chivalry that has its positives for its flattery, but also its negatives as being a time of divided gender treatment and a show of that time through action of one person receiving subservient acts while the other person provided. While there is no dress code for a butler cafe it still gives off a fancy vibe, so those dressed for the occasion can sometimes receive different nick names from the service staff at western style butler cafes. A lady dressed in just about anything may be called “Madam”, but if in a fancy dress, petticoat, gothic lolita, or interesting garments the person maybe sometimes addressed as “Mistress”, “Milady” or “Ojousama” to fit the setting of their given appearance. The AnimaidSelf Maintenance Taking care of oneself is important to being clean, freshly renewed, and professional. It is important to: Bathing and Washing Hair, Clipping and Shaving, Brushing and Styling Hair, Perfume or Deodorant Scent. Direction of Cute! A maid uniform consist of a Dress: Petticoat, are worn for the effect of a skirt emphasis through style and shape. It can also add softness to the atmosphere with bouncing and fluffy appeal. There should be no more than several inches passing the skirt bottom. Undergarments, are worn for its utility in being modest in its coverage. Bloomers are suggested for comfort and being great with movement without adjustment. Legwear, are worn for the subtle hint of modesty and cuteness in skin to coverage ratio. In Japan letter grades of A (thigh highs), B (over knee socks), C (knee socks), D (mid shin socks), E (ankle socks). Thigh High Socks are standard in their usage at maid cafes, due to the rule of moe "Zettai Ryoiki" (absolute terrirory) skin between socks and a dress. Restricted leg garments are tights and fishnets. Headdress, and Accessories. Each is necessary to identify as a maid. Uniforms should state: what is the base uniform? what are standards to comply to? such as: no showing undergarments, uniform matching looks, approval of attire by the manager. Uniform Considerations Dress are decided from the establishment. The color of the dress is stated or purchased from the establishment itself. Depending on the cafe it is mandatory to wear bloomers and petticoats. Ribbons are to be tied nicely with help if needed. If a cafes uniform has a bodice (female vest) it must not show mid drift. Earning a Full Uniform In the some cases earning an entire uniform is apart of skilled experience, staff commitment, and defined meaning of climbing up the ranks. Why not sexy? A maid tends to cover skin as a way of creating a sense of mystery, moe passion that has customers thinking they might be some sort of angel or prince. When maids are sexy the masters are distracted by skin cleavage, seductive words, and overly attentive services. If a maid does take this route it can be seen as a different type of maid. Welcome to New Member ManualCongratulations! You are have shown interest in the Otaku Service Competition! Have it be as a volunteer, customer, or employee, there will be everything from start to finish. It might be your first time, a temporary, long term staff member or just transitioning from another Otamanorial establishment. In any case, we welcome you to the group of fellow Otaku.
This manual is to assist as a reference tool throughout your experience at a Otamanorial Establishment. This manual covers task requirements, task functions, skill information, sexual harassment in the workplace, and provides additional resources. Acting as a guide when there is a need for answers while contributing as a staff member of the Otamanor’s Residence. If this manual does not solve a problem, question you might have, additional resources are listed to guide you to the right places. We hope that you are motivated, successful, and enjoying the time at the Otamanor Residence. The Otaku Service Competition, we hope to enhance your interest in otaku culture by providing service skills, event success, and thorough understanding of the industry by providing this manual. This way every team will have growth for the future, skillfully perform, and have.... ------------------------------------------- Volunteer Job Requirements Otamanor’s have certain guidelines for each of the staff members to follow. These are the specific job requirements depending on the station you are assigned: Why do people become a Join? Skill Opportunities (will get back to this too...) ------------------------------------------- Working Position Progress: It can help with passion, friendly competition, and motivation. There are many cafes with their own systems that fit the Japan climate, but the one that we use is created by thinking of things from a mixture of western and Japan ideas. People serving are dependent on the area. Tier Rankings (Promotion System) People who work for the cafe are placed on experience and skills within several categories of the tier rankings. E Class- (Entrants) A class that normal workers, animanga and otaku aware, abnormally interested maids or butlers, and the lowest of maids or butlers have. Lower E classes represent "Beginners", while mid to upper E classes are to reach for higher rankings. Usually less interested in animanga than typical workers. Clean up duty, register, and food assembly are left to E class workers. D Class- (Debuters) Only otaku culture aware workers and beginning maids and butlers who dawn their incomplete uniforms for the first time may be this class. Those who have great interpersonal communication with minimal training are this class, under most circumstances. While they may talk a bit and take photos there is minimal interactions which they have for entertaining customers with games or non food service related tasks. Food serving, order taking, and previous E class duties when needed. C Class- (Probationers) Other than extremely rare cases, the only maids and butlers that can reach this class endured rigorous training at the cafe or a previous cafe along with their otaku culture awareness. Maids and Butlers with this class are as quite knowledgeable about basic operations, however, due to the difficulty of breaking out of this class and reaching the B class, they may have much more wisdom and be a bit competitive. They have Photos for or with customers with a limit of one per visit and cover D and E duties. At this class most of the areas are available to assist in without a fixed placement, so each day can be different duties. Many who strive to enter idol competitions and are in training at their local otaku clubs with karaoke, choreographed dance, and try to help run fundraisers tend to have many of the qualifications to enter this class. B Class- (Qualifiers) Each worker at B class undergoes moe (moeru) or bore (boreru) idol training or have has such voice talent, dancing, and music playing from the start. This class is presumably when one changes from a Maid to a Special Maid in class specialization. When workers from C class enter it, an entire uniform will be dawned and requires to push socializing further. Abilities truly begin to become improved and exhilarating in this class. While maids become great at their trade than typical service industry servers that have back of the house, front of the house, and entertainment skills. A Class- (Premium) Those who have reached this class went through many situations and experiences in working with the team and learned to manage their work. Usually it is unaware the jump to the class, since it is a measure of spirit of potentially undergoing management training of helping run the cafe. Many with this ability tend to have had prior sports, team work, or leadership training, or learned on the job a good chemistry with coworkers. The abilities while overlooked by customers are even more astounding than what can be displayed at B class of being a good worker, however, this is the second smallest class, as just a few more skills are needed to reach S class. They are considered to be specially selected as talented individuals who have different designed Brooches of different colors. They are interviewed, online personalities, and become featured in photo shoots, products, and sometimes video recordings as hosts to guest TV shows. They can also due swing manager duties. S Class- (Specialists) This class is remarkably harder to reach than other classes, however, though the powers of A class were already so high, they are nothing compared to this rank. S class Maids and Butlers are viewed as co-owners, and A classes are shift managers to many A Class maids and butlers. S classes are incredibly more versed in instruction and guidance than A classes, barring a few exceptions, and are viewed as the teachers and guardians of the staff. Because of this, the experts of the field are put in this class.
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June 2019
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