To many, Akihabara has a reputation that precedes itself. Many of the unique and crazy trends that Japan is known for were born here, from otaku culture and Electric Town to maid cafes and Mario Cart rides.
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On the second night of the Tokyo Night Life tour, we walked through the streets of Akihabara, bypassing alleys full of specialty electronics vendors, peeking into anime shops, being solicited to visit one maid cafe after another, and eventually landing at a concert venue called Dear Stage.
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At Dear Stage, each woman who works as a server is also a performer, singing and dancing on stage each night in the hopes of being scouted, her talents discovered because they stand out above the rest. It’s unlike any other place I’ve ever been and is a truly fascinating part of Japanese subculture.
