#the cafe had a private room the pets could retreat to which is nice

[crispylilworm]

Tokyo pet cafe ^.^

Such a fun way to spend a rainy day, and Kichijoji and Inokashira Park were so lovely to visit I definitely recommend if you want to see something more residential than central Tokyo but still with a shopping district & a lot to do

[rip-in-peace-eraserhead]

All This for a Cat Nap?

Pairing: Erasermic

AU: Fantasy/cat cafe

Summary: Aizawa Shouta owns and runs his own cat cafe which is paired up with a local shelter to get some of the cats adopted. On his lunch breaks, he uses his hidden shapeshifting powers to join the cats in the main room for a short nap. This backfires when he gets cursed by a witch for something he didn't do. Now stuck as a cat, he needs help to get out of this mess. Maybe that nice blond guy will be just what he needs.

For @gegeru within the @bnhasecretsanta2019. Have a happy holidays and a happy New Year.

Ao3 Link

Read under the cut.

This couldn’t be happening. 

Shouta hissed as the young employee reached for him again, This time he swiped at her hand with his claws, causing her to jerk back, yelping as she struggled to stay on the step ladder she had climbed while trying to reach him. 

With her having retreated for the moment, he bolted out of the cubby he had squeezed into and climbed another level to the tracks running along the upper walls. The thick carpeting under his paws along with the traction his claws gave him, he had enough maneuverability to make it to the other side of the room before she could even look for him again. 

Stupid customer. Stupid employee. Stupid witch making stupid assumptions. Stupid everything!

A new voice joined in with the assistant’s worried fretting. This one a bit lower pitched and calmer. Human words don’t translate perfectly to shifters who are in animal form so it was hard to make out. It must have been the guitar guy. He’s the very generous yet extremely infuriating guy who had decided that Shouta would make a good house pet. 

If Shouta were an actual cat instead of a shifter stuck as a cat, it would be insanely nice for guitar guy to offer to socialize an angry and partially feral cat after he paid for the cat. But Shouta isn’t a normal cat and now the guy’s offer is seriously hindering Shouta’s chance to just chill out at the cafe until the curse wears off.

With a moment to breathe, Shouta could consider his options. 

One: He could wait out this curse in the main room for weeks without interacting with a single human and hope that the curse doesn’t wear off in the middle of a busy day (leaving him buck-naked in a cat-cafe). And then pretend nothing happened when everyone asks. ‘Where the fuck have you been?’

Except that was unrealistic. The employees only put food out during the day and the other cats wouldn’t leave enough food for him if he waits. Also, he had no idea what curse he was under, so he might have to explain why he was gone for possibly months

Two: Hide under guitar guy’s couch, escape when he goes to work, find someone to turn him back, get back to his own apartment, and act like nothing happened. Then pretend not to feel guilty when he sees the missing cat posters all over town.

It was shitty, but the best option he has at the moment. Guitar-guy would still have Mochi to keep him company and if he really wanted a second cat, he could come back and adopt one.

He didn’t get the chance to consider a third option before another cat climbed up onto the other end of his perch. Happy to have found him, Mochi made a light trilling noise before mashing her face against his and starting to fervently clean his cheek. 

Being so preoccupied with the friendly tabby, he didn’t notice the hand reaching up behind him until it had a hold of his scruff. He yowled in protest but was pinned against a leather-clad chest  (impervious to wild claw swipes) and dropped into a pet tote. 

Mochi, now worried by Shouta’s protests, started to jump down the levels to reach him but was also scooped up by guitar guy who was apparently the one to use his leather jacket to knab Shouta without injury. She ended up being the one put into the temporary pet tote that the cafe offered to adopting patrons. 

That leads to another reason this situation sucks so much. The reason why the man had chosen Shouta and Mochi to adopt together was that he had seen Shouta taking a cat nap with Mochi and when Shouta ran away and tried to make himself look unappealing, the man decided to adopt both in hopes that Mochi would help socialize Shouta. He previously had everything worked out to adopt Mochi by herself and Shouta ended up being an accessory piece

Tired and frustrated, Shouta let out the loudest yowl he could muster, cursing that damned witch. So what if he had been lounging around as a cat. Making the assumption that he was a shifter who lived there as a cat just to advantage of the people’s good nature was incredibly rude. As the owner of the cafe, Shouta was the one who worked his ass off to get the place up and running and paired with the local shelter.

But now he was stuck in cat form until he could wait out the effects. 

Still not satisfied with the amount fo venting he’d done so far, he tossed his head back and made the most god-awful yowl/howl/scream he’d ever heard out of a cat’s mouth. Both humans and Mochi jumped at the noise.

Before he could muster up the energy for another, a face appeared through the bars of the cage. Vivid green eyes stared right into Shouta’s newly yellowed ones. The only thing Shouta could think was, “What a stupid mustache.”

“Hey....hey...little dude. It’s gonna be okay. Sorry for spooking ya. I know the carrier is a bit stressful but I’ll let ya out when we get home.”

Shouta ended up too distracted by the fact that he could clearly understand this guy to hear the transaction between the assistant manager and him as he was paying for their fees (and making a new account for Shouta because “His account must have gotten accidentally deleted.”)

It took until Shouta and Mochi were firmly buckled into guitar guy’s car before he said something more to Shouta. 

“I bet having a human just start chatting with you is a bit freaky, huh? I set up a spell so I could talk to Mochi and discuss her being my familiar but you ended up in the mix too. You don’t have to work as a familiar though. I just thought you needed a good home and if you like Mochi, it’d be best for you to come with her.”

Shouta said nothing in return as he began to reevaluate his life choices.

-----

Nemuri shrieked, half in laughter and half in fear, as Shouta, finally in human form, chased her around the tiny apartment wielding a mighty couch pillow. “I’m sorry!” She yelped out between laughs, diving behind the couch to get away. “I swear I thought you were just a hobo shifter mooching off the cafe!”

“I was almost neutered!” Shouta roared, trying to leap after her. Thankfully for Nemuri, he wasn’t used to human proportions just yet and landed on the couch, half sprawled over Hizashi’s lap. Hizashi just squeaked, his blush now reaching his ears as he desperately tried to avoid looking at a completely naked Shouta.

The moment it took Shouta to reboot after landing naked on top of a guy was long enough for Nemuri to make a break for it, sprinting out the door, boots in hand, with a hearty, “Good luck boys!”

With her gone, the fight left Shouta, leaving him with deep-set aches and a deeper regret towards the intense chase right after a painful shift back to human form.  

When Hizashi said nothing as the minutes stretched on, Shouta finally looked up to see him looking up and away in the most awkward attempt to avoid glancing too far down. It was funny for a second before the discomfort turned out to be contagious

Shouta readjusted so that he was sitting up like a normal person. ”Sorry.”

When Hizashi didn’t respond, Shouta awkwardly continued. “Y’know that I’m not mad at you, right? This month was batshit crazy and I’m the one who didn’t mention I’m a shifter. With the only other witch I’ve ever met cursing me within two minutes of meeting me, I was a little nervous.”

Hizashi finally uncovered his eyes, relieved that Shouta had placed the pillow over his privates. ”It’s cool, I guess. I just can’t believe I gushed about how the ‘cat cafe worker’ was to your face.”

“Well, you thought I was just a cat, so…”

They were interrupted by Mochi jumping up onto the couch between them, trilling loudly when no one began to pet her immediately. Shouta promptly took pity on her and scooped her up onto the pillow before beginning to rub at her chin.

“Speaking of being a cat,” Hizashi said, a tentative but sly grin crossing his face. “I’d better get a discount for life at the cafe after all the money I spent trying to make the grumpiest, hungriest, largest, fluffiest maine coon happy.”

Shouta rolled his eyes, trying to hide his amusement. “How about I help you pick out another cat, get them all settled, and wave any of the fees for all of that? If you want more retribution, ask your friend. She’s the one who put us in this situation.”

Hizashi pondered the offer for a bit, overexaggerating his uncertainty until it was obvious Shouta was Done. “Okay fine. But you have full visitation rights over Mochi and don’t you dare miss Christmas or I’m telling her you forgot all about her and she’s going to guilt you to death.”

This time Shouta rolled his eyes for real, shooing Mochi off his lap and standing up with the pillow still protecting his modesty. “I’m going to go raid your closet so I don’t have to do a naked walk of shame. Give me ten minutes and we can pretend this never happened.”

The humor slipped out of Hizashi’s face before he lunged forward. “Wait!”

Shouta stopped and was surprised by the hand grabbing his wrist.

“One more request.”

“Greedy aren’t we-”

“One date.”

Shouta froze, startled by the sudden boldness from Hizashi considering how blushy and embarrassed he was about his He turned fully, still awkwardly holding the pillow up, to try and gage Hizashi’s expression.

“Are you sure? Because I wasn’t acting like a dickish cat just to be mean. I really am grumpy, depressed, messy, and tired all the time.” It sounded self-deprecating even to his own ears but give him a break, he’d been off his depression meds for almost a month by this point.

Hizashi stood up and moved closer, now taking Shouta’s hand in his. “I’ve seen a bit of that when at the cafe and I think you’re selling yourself short. I don’t know if you remember this but you were the one who pointed out Mochi to me when I mentioned adopting a cat. I’ve never seen someone so compassionate and I’d like to see more of you. Please?”

A million excuses ran through Shouta’s mind as he tried to mentally work out how to say ‘I a mess you don’t want to clean up’. Before he could articulate one, he noticed the soft longing in Hizashi’s eyes, brilliant emerald staring directly into Shouta’s soul. 

“Fine but I’m paying..”

[takenews-blog1]

Japanese Subcultures You Won’t Believe Are Real!

New Post has been published on https://takenews.net/japanese-subcultures-you-wont-believe-are-real/

Japanese Subcultures You Won’t Believe Are Real!

Japan welcomes over 20 million international guests yearly, however for some motive, a lot of their tradition stays enigmatic to the Western world. There’s lots to find inside Japan’s superb tradition and also you’ll quickly see that concepts like cuddle cafes and sleeping on the job are thought-about completely regular in Japanese society. Some issues could shock you or have you ever scratching your head — like why a sure American meals chain is packed on the finish of the 12 months!

Any service you’ve acquired at a restaurant could be thought-about subpar when you’ve set foot into one in every of Japan’s meido kafes, or maid cafes. When you enter such institutions, waitresses wearing frilly anime-like maid costumes will serve you as if you’re their grasp (or mistress), slightly than an everyday cafe patron. Maid cafes originated in Akihabara, an space in Toyko residence to the otaku, or nerd, district. The idea has been so widespread that competitors has inspired cafes to ramp up their service by attempting to make clients’ experiences as enjoyable and thrilling as doable. However don’t be mistaken, these maid cafes will not be meant to be sexual in any means.

Maybe you’re feeling somewhat lonely and wish the heat of one other physique to cuddle up towards. Stroll round Akihabara somewhat extra and also you would possibly come throughout one in every of Japan’s cuddle cafes, the place you may pay to cuddle with a whole stranger (except you’re an everyday, which, there are at some cafes). It prices round $40 for a 30-minute session, however don’t get any concepts — these institutions supply nothing greater than cuddling. There are different perks you may pay for equivalent to hand holding, staring into one another’s eyes — even an ear cleansing — however these cuddle periods are purely harmless.

In case you want a fast, no frills place to remain for an evening or two, you could be within the utilitarianism of a Japanese capsule lodge. Inside you will discover a big room with dozens of particular person capsules meant for lodge patrons. The capsules are not any bigger than a single mattress and are generally geared up with a small tv set or a spot to retailer and cost your private gadgets. There’s a communal toilet, very similar to what you’d discover at a hostel. Salaried businessmen and inebriated people who couldn’t make it residence safely are frequent patrons of those institutions.

This might sound unusual, however not fairly as unusual as why Japanese folks love a sure American quick meals!

Much more curious than capsule lodges are the notorious Japanese love lodges. Providing two totally different room charges — a “relaxation” or an in a single day keep — these lodges are designed for amorous . Whereas the clientele ranges from metropolis bosses and their mistresses to a married couple attempting to boost their love life, a key element of those lodges is their discretion. Verify-in and lots of the opposite lodge processes are completed on a pc, permitting for as little human interplay as doable to take care of privateness. Whereas most rooms are fairly fundamental, lots of lodges supply theme rooms with facilities various from karaoke machines to rotating beds.

In case you’re in search of extra area of interest cafes to take a look at, look no additional than a bunny cafe, or usagi cafe. In case you’re conversant in the idea of cat cafes, then bunny cafes are not any totally different. Right here, you may play with all of the furry rabbits your coronary heart needs. You may nonetheless seize a snack or a drink, however some cafes could have the eating and bunny areas separate. The idea of bunny cafes has actually taken off, though they’re not fairly on each avenue nook just like the maid cafes appear to be. As a result of there are lots of restrictions on proudly owning private pets in Japan, lots of people go to pet cafes to get their furry repair.

Though solely about one % of Japan is Christian, lots of Japanese folks nonetheless stay up for Christmas — and it’s not even a nationwide vacation there. When Christmastime rolls round, Japan’s Kentucky Fried Hen eating places start dolling out particular Christmas Get together Barrels, which embody full-on dinners for the entire household to get pleasure from. The idea of Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii, or Kentucky for Christmas, took up within the mid-’70s when the supervisor of the primary Japan-based KFC considered offering a means for foreigners to have fun Christmas overseas. Now, having KFC at Christmastime is as conventional in Japan as having a Christmas tree in your front room.

KFC on Christmas won’t be unusual to most, however wait till you see the extreme Japanese vogue pattern that can make your jaw drop!

Whenever you’re strolling alongside the streets in Japan, you would possibly get somewhat thirsty and need to cease at a close-by merchandising machine for a refreshing soda. Fortunate for you, in Japan, you will get a soda after which some. Japan is residence to among the craziest merchandising machines on this planet. You may get something from beer, scorching soup, produce, eggs — even used underwear! Merchandising machines are distinguished in Japan and you’ll usually see lots of them lined up, versus simply seeing one or two on a avenue nook like in lots of different Western nations.

In Japanese arcades, you might be prone to come throughout their purikura machines, picture sticker cubicles which can be an entire lot of enjoyable. Whereas commonplace picture cubicles within the Western world are normally made to suit only one or two folks, purikura machines can accommodate an entire group of individuals, so that you and all of your finest pals can take part on the expertise. The actual enjoyable after your picture is taken. From there, you may customise your images in varied varieties of methods relying on what’s supplied by your machine. Your images may have customized backgrounds, drawings, stickers—you may even change the options in your face!

You’ve greater than seemingly heard of karaoke, however if you happen to haven’t — the place have you ever been?! The Japanese invention has gained worldwide recognition and has been round for many years. It entails you singing right into a microphone because the lyrics of your favourite track are displayed on the display, whereas the instrumental points of the track play within the background. In Japan, individuals who go to karaoke get their very own personal room to allow them to sing to their coronary heart’s content material with out having to be embarrassed. You may even order meals and drinks and have a full-on social gathering together with your closest pals!

Arising, you’ll see why this Japanese fashion will be seen as controversial!

Go away it to Japan to take the pinball idea up about ten notches! Pachinko is kind of just like the Japanese equal to fit machines, besides pachinko machines use tiny metal balls that decide the machine’s payout. Fashionable-day machines show colours and lights just like the joy of slot machines. There are a lot of Pachinko parlors all through Japan and they’re similar to casinos, nevertheless, playing for cash is against the law in Japan. At pachinko parlors, you will need to trade your payout for prizes or tokens. More often than not, the tokens will be delivered to a separate venue the place you may trade them for money.

By now, you may already see Japan’s affinity for making issues visually thrilling, partaking, and as a rule, extraordinarily cute! This has been prolonged into the realm of vogue as nicely and there’s no higher instance than Harajuku avenue fashion. The world across the Harajuku station in Tokyo has its personal eclectic and off-beat vibe and inside its streets run varied Harajuku fashion tribes — totally different subcultures inside Harajuku which can be differentiated by which types and developments an individual is carrying. Typically, teenagers are seen carrying shiny and outlandish clothes, usually with elaborate make-up and hairstyles.

Ganguro is among the subcultures of Harajuku street-style. The time period “ganguro” roughly interprets to “blackface” and entails women with deep synthetic tans and hair dyed anyplace from platinum blonde to orange. Ganguro women additionally make up their faces with heavy black eyeliner and white eyeshadow throughout their eyes. Though Ganguro might even see controversial from a Western viewpoint, proponents of the fashion argue that it was began by youth who rebelled towards conventional Japanese magnificence beliefs of white pores and skin and darkish hair. Ganguro will be taken to the acute with yamanba fashion, which originates from a witch of Japanese folklore.

Talking of folklore, see which Japanese superstition has made its means into on a regular basis society…

The recognition of Ganguro started to wane because the 2000s kicked in and by then, teenagers had been beginning to obsess with the Lolita fashion. Whereas the title Lolita could evoke inappropriate sexual connotations within the minds of Westerners, the Lolita vogue craze in Japan has a completely totally different which means. Women gown up in modest Victorian-era-style attire, which are sometimes frilly and very female. Women put on their hairs in pigtails with huge bows and even take it to the subsequent stage with petticoats and knee socks. Lolita fashion has even developed into one other substyle referred to as Gothic Lolita, which is identical concept however with a darkish twist.

In direction of the latter half of the 12 months, you could be round for Hadaka Matsuri, which is called Japan’s Bare Pageant. Sorry, girls — it is a boys solely retreat. 1000’s of males and boys (wearing a loincloth, so not fully bare) collect at Saidai-ji for a midnight celebration earlier than they take part in a race to win success for the next 12 months. The race entails two sacred sticks thrown right into a crowd by a Shinto priest. Whoever efficiently sticks each sticks right into a rice-filled field often called the masu, is the one who wins the 12 months of fine fortune.

One other custom in Japanese tradition is Coming of Age Day, a nationwide vacation normally celebrated on the second Monday of January. At the present time is held for people who turned 20 years previous on or earlier than that day over the previous 12 months, to congratulate their entrance into maturity and encourage their new anticipated obligations. Women gown for the event, in elaborate furisode, a method of kimono distinguished by lengthy sleeves. Guys used to decorate in conventional Japanese garb, however in recent times have veered towards carrying a swimsuit and tie. Nonetheless, the occasion is more and more shedding recognition amongst present Japanese younger adults.

Arising, this Japanese superstition has affected many points of every single day life.

For a rustic that places a lot emphasis on respecting elders, they positive do know methods to have fun their youth! One other conventional Japanese vacation is Kids’s Day. Generally known as Kodomo No Hello, the custom was initially often called Boy’s Day to have fun boys of the household and their fathers. Moreover, there was a Lady’s Day as nicely, however as of 1948 the Japanese authorities formally acknowledged an general Kids’s Day to have fun kids’s’ happiness and respect their particular person personalities. Households have fun by placing up koinobori, carp-shaped flags that appear like they’re swimming when the wind blows by way of.

In case you have a tendency to go to sleep at your desk and infrequently get slack for it, you would possibly need to transfer to Japan the place that’s completely acceptable. The Japanese idea of inemuri, which roughly interprets to “current whereas sleeping,” is the follow of napping in public — which features a work or class setting. Japanese bosses acknowledge that their staff work so laborious, they could be pushed to have interaction in inemuri, which is completely okay so long as you’re “sleeping” upright. Some Japanese even go to sleep on public transportation and have a tendency to go to sleep on a stranger’s shoulder, however don’t fear — that’s socially acceptable too.

One factor you’ll discover whenever you’re in Japan is how there buildings don’t have a labeled fourth ground. Elevator buttons will go from three to 5, however by no means 4. Why? The Japanese are superstitious concerning the quantity 4 as a result of the phrase for it in Japanese sounds similar to the Japanese phrase for loss of life. The quantity 4 is taken into account very unfortunate in Japanese tradition and this extends to different numbers that embody a quantity 4. Quantity 49, for instance, is dangerous as a result of in Japanese it sounds just like the phrase “ache till loss of life.” This phenomenon is called tetraphobia and is distinguished all through East and Southeast Asia.

In case you’re feeling significantly adventurous with Japanese delicacies, you may take part in Omakase, which interprets to “I’ll depart it to you.” This custom entails letting the chef of a restaurant select your order for you. In a rustic that has among the finest cooks and freshest elements, this wouldn’t be a foul concept. Nonetheless, there are some tips to get the perfect expertise doable. For instance, you would possibly need to strive Omakase at a sushi restaurant, the place recent fish and veggies are delivered every single day. However if you happen to have interaction a chef in Omakase you must decide to it, as a result of it will be very impolite if you happen to didn’t eat what was given to you.

In Japan, there are lots of households that undertake adults. Whereas most orphans in Western tradition will not be up for adoption as adults, Japan has made it fully regular to undertake non-related adults into the offspring roles of their households. Japanese households do that to increase their household title, property, and ancestry. The follow is particularly distinguished in Japan as a result of fewer individuals are getting married and having kids and in consequence, Japan is experiencing a reducing start price and regarding lower in inhabitants. Most Japanese undertake somebody of their twenties and these adoptees should comply with tackle their new household title if they need the inheritance.