These "maid cafes" -- inspired by the traditional maid outfit that has long been a motif in Japanese pop culture -- have evolved from niche subculture hangouts 20 years ago into a mainstream attraction for people of all ages and genders.And staff working there insist that the experience is not in any way designed to titillate, saying it is meant to be a wholly innocent family-friendly experience. "I've been fighting against prejudice for 22 years," Hitomi, a "maid" in Tokyo's Akihabara neighbourhood where the cafes started, told AFP."Little remarks can be hurtful... In those moments, I tell myself that what we do isn't yet sufficiently understood." Waitresses, wearing a short dress, petticoat, pinafore and hair accessory, serve brightly coloured drinks or twee delights like a dish called "Wan Wan! Puppy Curry Rice" (made with beef) or "Cutie Toy Poodle Cake".But the experience is more about the interaction with customers, with the maids clasping their hands together in heart shapes, chanting "magic spells" over the food, singing songs or playing games."We serve food and drinks, but to me, it is more like a theme park than a cafe," said Hitomi.In this fairytale world, "the waitresses aren't just 'girls,' but rather slightly fantastical characters who are eternally 17 years old", the mother-of-two told AFP, preferring not to give her real age.At-Home Cafe, which employs 650 maids across 13 locations, says it has strict rules to protect staff and govern interactions with patrons. This includes no touching and prohibiting the maids from handing out flyers on the street.French tourist Taha Hsine, 26, visiting a cafe with his girlfriend, admitted that he had half-expected to see "sweaty guys coming in to see their favourite maid".