Manga cafe
Manga Kissa (Japanese漫画 吃茶) or manga cafes are facilities in Japan that resemble a mix of café and library. They also offer a Manga to read spot numerous amenities to, particularly Internet access, multimedia entertainment and gaming consoles.
Development
The first Manga Kissa emerged at the end of the 1970s, following the example of Japanese coffee houses, either on the island of Okinawa or in the city of Nagoya. Originally they were small cafes where you could choose from a more or less extensive range next to a cup of tea or coffee to pass the time manga, and thus resembled the South Korean Manhwabang.
A boom experienced the Manga Kissa from the year 1997. Using an extension of the offer from manga, their number increased, for example, alone in Tokyo between 1997 and 2000 from two to about 100, and their total number in Japan in 2000 amounted to about 200, with a total turnover of 20 billion yen ( about 135 million euros).
Modern Manga Kissa
Modern Manga Kissa are commonly found in large cities and often take an entire floors in portrait or commercial buildings. In addition to a range of up to tens of thousands of manga usually also Internet access, DVD players and game consoles are offered, some are even massage chairs, showers and washing machines available. The facilities are open all year around the clock.
Payment is depending on visit duration, the rate for the first hour is generally from 400 to 600 yen ( about 2.70 to 4 € ) and is then billed in 15 -minute increments. Many Manga Kissa also offer flat rates for the whole night, which (about 8-9 euros) with tariffs 1200-1300 yen significantly cheaper than the hotel costs in capsule hotels or love hotels.
One of the greatest Manga Kissa chains include " Gran Cyber Cafe ", " Manga Gera Gera " and " Manga Manboo ".
Social issue
Manga Kissa are open around the clock and there is usually no time limit for the stay. A study conducted in 10 prefectures in spring 2007 survey showed that about 80 % of all Manga Kissa guests with striking long dwell time, often more than ten at a time. These include not only traveling business people who want to save high accommodation costs, but also low-income earners who can not afford their own apartment, and homeless. In individual cases, Manga Kissa be used for years as a home replacement.
The business principle of Manga Kissa always leads to abuse:
- The 33 -year-old homeless Kentaro Shimada made in 2005 across Japan headlines when he tried to escape after nearly two months of uninterrupted stay in a Manga Kissa in Nagaoka ( from 2 August to 26 September ), without his now to 520,000 yen ( about 3,500 euros ) to pay had grown invoice.
- In April 2006, the 37 -year-old Kiyoshi Ikeda was arrested when he could not pay for a 34 -day duration of stay in a Manga Kissa in Gifu his bill in the amount of 150,000 yen ( about 1,000 euros ).
Manga Kissa international
An framed Japanese-style manga café with a stock of about 8000 titles was opened in the French capital Paris on 22 July 2006.