A Japanese-style pub is utilizing anime-style avatar waitresses to take orders, with the avatars being operated by real human employees from a remote location.
The Tokyo’s Shinbashi district’s Miraizaka izakaya branch not only serves delicious karaage (fried chicken) and beer, but also offers other tasty options.
The pub has recently collaborated with Avatar Dining Lab, a Tokyo-based startup that offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience where customers can place their orders through virtual anime-inspired wait staff.
Despite the widespread use of touchscreen ordering systems in Japanese restaurants, Miraizaka stands out for its inclusion of anime avatars with a personal touch.
Miraizaka sports a relaxed and warmly lit interior for diners to relax.
The anime-style avatars are operated by real individuals behind the scenes, allowing for live control and eliminating the use of pre-recorded animations or sound clips during the ordering process.
Rather than simply utilizing AI during this digital era, Avatar Dining Lab’s advanced hybrid system strives to enhance the overall dining experience for customers while also aiding staff in avoiding lengthy commutes and increasing their availability for shifts.
Currently, the anime-style avatars are only available for a limited time, from July 29 to August 29, with a brief hiatus from August 11-16. However, for those interested in enjoying food or drinks served by an anime waitress, the avatars will be working at the bar from 6 PM to 11 PM in the local time zone.
If the trial is successful, it is possible that anime-style avatar waitresses will become more common, as Miraizaka has multiple branches throughout the country.
Anime has been incorporated into dining before, as seen when McDonold’s collaborated with the popular anime and manga series Jujutsu Kaisen to offer a limited-time sauce flavor. Now, the fast-food giant is teaming up with Studio Pierrot, known for producing Naruto and Bleach, to develop an anime centered around McDonald’s fries and nuggets.
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