What is Japanese kissaten?
The word ‘kissaten’ is derived from the kanji characters, “consume,” “tea,” and “shop” which means “tea-drinking shop. Traditionally, a kissaten is a tearoom that serves coffee. But, these days, a typical kissaten serves coffee and light meals, in addition to tea. Cafés, influenced by Western culture, often serve as social venues where alcohol is available. They emphasize entertainment and frequently feature female servers providing attentive service. On the other hand, kissaten developed during the Showa era and primarily focus on serving tea, coffee, and light meals.Western sweet treats played a particularly important role in enticing female customers, with elaborate cakes, ice cream parfaits, pancakes, and colorful floats like melon cream soda becoming kissaten staples. Although the kissaten had been cultural icons for decades, the 1980s and 1990s brought challenges.
What are cuddle cafés in Japan?
So-called Cuddle Cafes in Japan offer emotional companionship by allowing customers to hug with or gaze at strangers. The country’s strict social norms of self restraint and not disturbing others leave many young people struggling with loneliness. More people in Japan are turning away from intimate relationships. We hold hands and kiss in public often in Japan. The only place we don’t kiss is on a train, bus, or subway or at the hot springs. For all couples, same sex or not, it is culturally rude to kiss on the trains or subways or buses. It is a small tight space and it could make people uncomfortable.