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Content Warning: ableism

Spoilers for Akiba Maid War

Akiba Maid War is full of jaw-dropping moments, but what else is to be expected from a show that combines the shocking storylines of a yakuza film with the adorable culture of Japanese maid cafes? That said, no amount of blood splattering across the screen or sudden, emotional character deaths hit me quite as hard as the post-credits scene of the finale. It took just fifty seconds to make me squeal out loud and cement Akiba Maid War as one of the most impactful shows of 2022. This was because of its perfect rendition of something rarely seen in the medium itself: disabled joy.

At the beginning of the anime, naive protagonist Wahira Nagomi moves to Akihabara to be a live-in maid for the Oinky Doink Café. As she proudly proclaims in the first episode, “I’ve always wanted to be a maid so I’ll work like my life depends on it!” Ironically, she soon learns her job truly is a life or death prospect, thrust into the middle of what turns into a particularly bloody and death-filled raid on a rival café. Initially, she wants to run away (and even temporarily does so partway through the series), but eventually finds her resolve because she wants to still live her dream of being the cheerful and happy maid she has always wanted to be. Nagomi believes in the power of moe moe kyun and is determined that disputes can be solved without violence.

Read it at Anime Feminist!


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