Pre-Valentine Maid Cafe

Not known to all, Cosplay Cafe is a very common sight in Japan, most especially in the district of Akihibara. Themed restaurant specifically, cosplay restaurants originated in Akihibara in the late of the 20th century. The main target market of these restaurants are otakus. A lot of otaku community abroad have embraced this phenomenon. As the dawn of the 21st century, it became known worldwide and gained its popularity then. 

Anigumi Joukai never fails to bring otaku culture in the city. As the guild is getting better as it turned two in 2012, the core members continued the legacies of the existing guild. Aside from making and organizing big events in malls, Anijou officers thought of organizing a cosplay cafe on a whole different level. Partnering with a local restaurant, Brew Burgers & Cafe, Anijou organized the second Cosplay Cafe. It is safe to say that the cosplay cafe is first to happen in Iloilo City, here in Panay Island. Now, on its second run, the guild closed a partnership with the professionals. 

The official anijin mascot for cosplay cafes, Love & Struck
Art by Sam Suansing

One of the resident anijin artist, Sam Suansing, designed the two mascots, Love and Struck. To know more the background of the mascot, click here. February 11, 2012 was the date chosen thus making it a pre valentine cosplay cafe. It was themed, maid cafe. Anijins, who were willing to be servers for the day cosplayed the character of their choice. Some servers didn't cosplay, rather wear their personal maid outfit ensemble. There were 8 servers that day.

The cosplay cafe opened at 3pm until past 7pm. It was a fun afternoon for those who came. There were intermission numbers by Kimsshi, Brendan Apuan & Lee Santillan, Marc Louise and co. from Beat by Arts.

Tickets at P100 were sold out. Each meal tickets include a meal and a drink.
The specialty of the house was part of the menu. Burgers, Pasta and rice meals were the options. Pasta was the first to be sold out. Burgers got the highest sale.

It was a very successful event.


Enough talk and let's watch a short video by Mark Henry Melocoton.

(c) Lee Mizuumi