Otaku Lingo: Meido Moe メイド萌え

Moe feelings for a videogame character

“Moe” (萌え, pronounced phonetically as [mo-a]) is a term that tugs deep at the heart of every otaku. While used loosely around the same context of things, moe can be used as a feeling or characteristic. It’s not a genre. The word is used most to refer to something or more commonly someone “adorable”, “cute”, mainly to anime/manga series and and originally video game characters but with a burning desire! <3

It is compared to the first flutters of innocent love, but not necessarily tied with longs of lust. Since it is referred with “innocence” it is usually referred to a member of the younger opposite sex. As much as I would like to stick to the original meaning, the new generation otakus & people new to the concept link it to fetish love for fictional characters named above ^^;”

For this week’s Otaku Lingo, I would like to delve deeper into a sub-classification which is “Meido-moe (メイド萌え)”. Meido Moe is to develop Moe feelings towards maids that you see in anime or when you visit a meido café in Akihabara. There could be several reasons why meido-moe appeal to fans, and one of them could be that you love the french maid uniform (typically be an apron, petticoat or pinafore teamed up with matching accessories, stockings, French maid head dress, rabbit or cat ears with their outfits to add more appeal). Of course, the meidos are typically of a certain age range mostly young, attractive and innocent-looking women. Though some maid cafes have crossdressed so a double fetish of traps and maids ∑(O_O)！

The meido cafés in Akihabara were originally created to adhere primarily to the fantasies of male otakus who are typical diehard fans of anime, manga and video games. The image of the maid has been turned into a fetish in many manga and anime series, as well as in gal (dating) games. Moe is the drive for an otaku to visit a maid café in Japan, whereas in other countries you visit for the food and novelty of being served by a maid and get cute photos. People who have moe are attracted to the fact this establishment houses real-life manifestations (both physically and in demeanor) of the fictional maid characters that they have fetishized.

In additional to appearance, one would say that the demure is another treat for those who indulge in meido moe. The meido-san would typically speak politely and wait on you hand and foot well to a certain degree in a café. Once you step into the café, you would be warmly greeted with ”Welcome home, Master (Mistress)” (お帰りなさいませ、ご主人様！ Okaerinasaimase, goshujinsama)”, and enjoy the next hour being the domineering type and having someone to command, someone to submit to all your…cake purposes ^^;

When I think about it it’s more of a male fetish than female, I went to a pop up Maid café in Camden, London. This was a first for me and even thought they added a Western twist to cater for Western customers. The clientele was mostly young men interested in playing games and losing to be punished by the maids, no nothing serious unless you like to have a cat face drawn on your face with permanent marker?

Reluctant Maid Misaki Ayuzawa & Takumi Usui from Maid Sama!

I haven’t watched many maid themed anime or manga apart from Maid Sama!, known in Japan as “Kaichou wa Maid-sama!  (会長はメイド様)”. Revolving around Misaki, who is School president and has a reputation among the male students boy-hating dictator and as a shining hope for the teachers and fellow female students. Despite her tough demeanor she secretly works part-time at a maid café in order to support her family. Unfortunately, her hard-earned reputation is threatened when the popular,Takumi Usui takes an interest in her after discovering her in a MAID UNIFORM after school. Ahh who am I kidding, this love is all about the costume.

As an impartial perspective to Meido Moe, a character I’d most like to see in this attire would be charming robot lass Aigis from Persona 3. Well what do you know, the internet has EVERYTHING

Aigis from Persona 3 all ‘maid’ up XD

Of course, there are also many other characters in various games and anime series that have at some point in time being given the meido treatment, usually just for the sake of fanservice. So are you someone who just can’t resist meido moe? (^_-)—☆Wink