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A unique pop-up café in Tokyo has taken Japan by storm, offering customers an unusual dining experience: verbal abuse and humiliation.
The Bato Cafe Omokenashi, open for a limited time in September, has become a social media sensation both in Japan and internationally.
The brainchild of Japanese producer and influencer Nobuyuki Sakuma, the café is an extension of his popular online shows where attractive young women berate comedians. The concept has now been brought to life in a physical space, blending high-quality dining with deliberate discourtesy.
At first glance, the café appears ordinary, with waitresses in cute pink aprons and a menu supervised by Michelin chef Shuhei Sawada. However, customers quickly realize this is no typical dining establishment when the staff begin hurling insults and using crude language.
One reporter's experience, shared with Japanese media outlet Rocketnews24, highlighted the stark contrast to Japan's usually impeccable service culture. The waitress addressed him as "pig," served his meal without chopsticks, and criticized his appearance relentlessly.
The café employs about 10 abusive waitresses, with a rotating cast of notoriously sharp-tongued women from Sakuma's shows serving as daily managers. Despite the harsh treatment, the establishment has proven popular among both customers and staff. For many service workers, it offers a cathartic reversal of roles, allowing them to vent frustrations typically suppressed in Japan's customer-centric service industry.
Customers are limited to one-hour sessions and must book in advance. The café also offers a "VIP service" for an additional fee, which includes being playfully spanked with slippers. Souvenirs, such as photos of customers being "abused," are available for purchase.
For those preferring to observe rather than participate, the café provides "no abuse" cards, allowing diners to enjoy the spectacle without direct involvement.
The concept has sparked intrigue and amusement, with one satisfied customer praising both the "abusive girls" and the food quality. The café's popularity reflects a unique cultural phenomenon, prompting one Chinese observer to remark, "Why did I already know it's a Japanese café just by the sound of it?"
Source: SCMP
