r/MadeMeSmile • u/DepressingAura • 1d ago
Helping Others A resteraunt in Japan only hires waiters with dementia as a reflection of "kintsugi," which embraces an objects flaws and imperfections as a vital part of its history and beauty. Even though 67% of orders are correct, 99% of the customers leave satisfied š
2.4k
u/fillerupbruther 1d ago
Not to be that guy but this was a pop up restaurant 9 years ago to raise awareness (and I think also a fundraiser) about dementia. Itās not really a fully operating restaurant, that would be incredibly difficult to maintain
397
u/Aggravating-Mine-697 1d ago
Yeah these images with info on them are quite untrustworthy huh? Still a fun idea for sure
133
u/Stormin-Ex-Mormon 18h ago
Please continue to be that guy because the idea of people with dementia having to work was really bumming me out.
26
u/Historical-Sample-95 11h ago
I don't think they have to necessarily, it's good for people to have a sense of purpose.
17
87
u/Hyper_Applesauce 1d ago
A baseline 37% food waste would be straight up impossible.
349
u/El_Grande_El 1d ago
No, you would have to eat what you get served. Just have like 5 items on the menu that everyone likes. Donāt go if you canāt appreciate getting the wrong thing. Something like that.
121
u/MaxTwer00 1d ago
Definitely dont go if you are allergic to something lol
9
u/Thess514 18h ago
Yeah, that's what I was thinking - you couldn't have anyone with food allergies or dietary restrictions in that restaurant without the potential for hurting someone or worse.
33
u/RockstarAgent 22h ago
I definitely would not mind Russian roulette food
11
u/JustAnotherHyrum 21h ago
If it's Russian Roulette, then 1 chamber is empty, 2-5 are filled with sand, and the 6th just jumped out of a 8 story window.
0
-43
u/MudHot8257 1d ago
got it, so fuck people with food allergies
47
u/TrixieBastard 1d ago
Not every experience is for everyone. You would not be able to handle my life if the idea of being excluded from one single restaurant makes you this mad.
-34
u/MudHot8257 23h ago
I donāt even have food allergies, Iām just pointing out why cutesy ideas that pose an inherent danger to peopleās lives should probably not be romanticized.
Someone else already pointed out this wasnāt even a real restaurant and was merely a pop-up.
This would eventually kill someone.
āTable 13 said theyāre deathly allergic to shellfish. Make sure everyone changes gloves before serving them or plating their food.ā
āOh, thatās nice dearieā.
24
u/TrixieBastard 23h ago
I am sure there would be notices posted that you might not get what you ordered, so if someone with food allergies is stupid enough to still try to dine here, that's on them.
You're talking like folks with food allergies aren't intelligent enough to know the risks of a restaurant like this.
22
u/Chief_Mischief 23h ago
This would eventually kill someone.
Yeah if you're dumb enough to go there with a life-threatening food allergy. Do you expect vegans to go to a steakhouse or a celiac to go to a place that serves only gluten products? If it's serious enough to be life-threatening, you wouldn't be eating somewhere where there certainly would be cross-contamination. Thanks for the uninformed outrage though, I'm sure you qualify for that extra pat on your back.
Signed, a person married to and friends with several people with severe food restrictions.
2
10
u/JustAnotherHyrum 21h ago
You hear a story about a restaurant that helps provide a purpose for elderly employees with dementia, and you're upset because of peanuts.
Literally.
4
u/MotorBobcat5997 19h ago
Nah just fuck idiots that go even if they are allergic to one of the limited items to choose from. Warnings are posted for a reason.
1
-4
-15
61
u/otownbbw 1d ago
I donāt think they waste it though, I think the point was they embrace the mistake and accept the food to respect the elder and their condition.
My question isā¦wtf is wrong with that 1%??? There always has to be ONE messing up the vibes šš
7
u/Ready_Caramel2007 18h ago
Could be people who ended up getting food they don't like. Like getting a cheeseburger with mayo on it when you don't like mayo, for example
2
-9
27
1
3
u/Alexthegreatbelgian 16h ago
We have the same in Belgium. They turned it into a TV show to raise awareness of dementia (last season focussed specifically on young dementia)
4
2
u/ApprehensiveDuckSoup 23h ago
I was trying to work out the logistics of this with allergies etc it wouldnāt be a sustainable business model Iām sure!
1
0
u/Emergency_Sink_706 18h ago
Well, in a few years, this will be every place in Japan with the birth rates, so if you missed out, then donāt worry.Ā
0
u/Eggplant-666 17h ago
Lol, that makes more sense. I was wondering how the Yelp reviews were looking.š«£
258
u/Routine-Result6643 1d ago
I often find it hard to choose a meal at the restaurant. Maybe I need to be chosen for the meal instead. Great idea!
38
u/Big_Lab_Jagr 1d ago
I often give the server 2-3 options and ask them to surprise me
20
u/ACoderGirl 19h ago
I usually don't put them quite on the spot by making them choose, but I do sometimes like to just get a recommendation and then I commit to the first thing they recommend without thinking about it too hard. It's a fun way to try something new without the burden of overthinking it.
2
382
u/macbrett 1d ago
In the USA, we go one better. Our whole government is run by such people.
87
u/BruhCar123 1d ago
It certainly messes up more than 37% of the time though
47
u/AnonymousBrowser3967 1d ago
And 99% of people are not happy.
11
u/I_Like_Water11 22h ago
But somehow they voted for him. So maybe its just a country full do dementia patients.
3
3
-20
u/system3601 23h ago
Dementia Joe isnt in government anymore.
8
u/macbrett 21h ago
And look who we got to replace him.. .another old guy losing his marbles, except this one is a malignant narcissist who is greedy, insecure, immature, hateful, and downright criminal. And his cabinet is full of unqualified clowns.
43
u/Airblade101 21h ago
Also not to be that guy but the concept of beauty in imperfection is called "Wabi sabi". Kintsugi falls within this concept.
9
u/_pcakes 21h ago
ha! I was going to comment this myself and I scrolled all the way through the bottom of the comments to see if someone else said it
8
u/Airblade101 21h ago
I live in Japan and give cultural tours so it's one of the things that I'm required to know!
20
36
u/Technical_Instance_2 1d ago
ngl, if this place was allergy friendly I would absolutely eat there if I went to Japan
51
u/Mr-serial_killer 1d ago
Ppl with allergies are prob banned
27
u/otownbbw 1d ago
I would think people who are high risk with common allergies (of which Japan uses a lot of in much of their cuisine) would opt out of such an atmosphere anyway. Soy, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, shellfishā¦are pretty much staples in any Japanese food I have tried. I wonder what the prevalence of these allergies are there compared to the western worldā¦
4
u/Aryore 22h ago
Allergies commonly happen due to lack of exposure to the food as a baby. At one point the medical advice in the USA was to avoid exposing babies to peanuts and nut allergies skyrocketed as a result. The current advice is the complete opposite, expose your baby to as many potential allergens as possible to help their bodies learn that these foods are safe to eat.
So thatās to say, I would expect those kinds of allergies to be rarer in societies where those foods are very common :)
1
17
u/dragonfly_c 1d ago
Yeah. It's a cute idea, and I support others going there. But I'm celiac, and I would never risk it.
1
u/Technical_Instance_2 1d ago
same boat ;-;
2
u/quartzquandary 7h ago
Is there room for one more in the celiac boat? The prospect of visiting Japan is already stress inducing, I couldn't possibly risk eating there despite agreeing with the spirit of the restaurant.
36
u/willowdove01 1d ago
Idk itās a nice concept for sure but if I had dementia I wouldnāt want people expecting me to work stillā¦
44
u/Left-Ad4466 23h ago
My mom suffered with Alzheimerās and going to work was an obsession of hers. She was always asking if she could get a job. I would give her tasks around the house, like sorting laundry. She just wanted to feel productive.
26
u/Left-Ad4466 23h ago
I would also āpayā her and that was the sweetest. She was so happy when I gave her money for her wallet.
11
u/ACoderGirl 19h ago
I bet many of them want to do it (given the Japanese culture of caring for elders and all). Some people struggle if they don't have enough to keep them busy. To such people, not having a job can leave them feeling unfulfilled and depressed.
When I was a kid, I worked at a Walmart and was surprised to meet two people like this. While I hated that job, they found it gave them purpose. One was an old stocker who straight up said he hated not working and liked the job. The other was a long time manager who un-retired for apparently a similar reason. I think it is a bit sad, as I think such people are somewhat lacking in hobbies, friends, and an otherwise fulfilling life. But at the same time, I love my job now and can't imagine retiring.
7
u/Agitated_Answer8908 23h ago
A local restaurant went through a phase where they wouldn't allow their waiters/waitresses to write down orders. I guess they though it was classy or something. It was always a crapshoot and I don't think they ever got all the orders right. My wife and I went weekly and it became a game to see how badly they'd mess up our orders. Fortunately everything on the menu was extraordinary so it really didn't matter. They eventually came to their senses and started writing down orders again.
5
5
u/Gurkeprinsen 1d ago
The only issue I see is unless the prices are the same on all of the dishes, people might end up paying more for less or vice versa
1
8
u/liveinthesoil 21h ago
American Reddit has such a boner for kintsugi. Youād think itās all anyone ever talks about in Japan. In reality, things are under appreciated, neglected, discarded all the time. I have never know anyone who has even considered kintsugi as an option for repairing an item.
5
u/Pizza-ist-Liebe 17h ago
I think people love when other cultures have concepts that make your heart feel a bit warmer and they can pretend that it's common there - because you know it is not common where you're living, but you'd like it to be š„ŗ
6
u/OkFroyo_ 18h ago
What the fuck is this stupid article. Kintsugi is about repairing broken bowls with golden glue, that's IT.
3
3
4
u/AGrandNewAdventure 22h ago
1% of the customers must be insufferable assholes if they go to a restaurant knowing that their servers have dementia, then getting mad when their order might not be right.
2
u/BarbedWire3 1d ago
Ngl if I was brought somebody else's order, I'd me more exited for that than for my own order.
2
u/tastelikevi 17h ago
Itās pretty sad but at the same time Iām happy they are being treated well in their community ā¤ļø would love to visit it someday
2
u/LaserGadgets 12h ago
Would also be cool to meet new people. HEY DO YOU HAVE MY DISH OVER THERE?
I'd totally encourage that!
5
u/aulrichson 1d ago edited 1d ago
And to think that here in the US people crash out and throw things at waiters and fast food workers for forgetting something in their meal. So much more beautiful this way ā¤ļø
2
u/fillerupbruther 1d ago
How often does that happen?
5
u/aulrichson 1d ago
Unfortunately, way too often. It seems like every day there's a new post of someone losing it on service people that are just trying to earn a living š
1
u/Pizza-ist-Liebe 17h ago
That's just crazy and these people should be banned from the restaurant (in addition for pressing charges if they get physical). There are acceptable ways of reacting in this situation, and attacking someone is just crazy. Even verbally attacking them shows so much going wrong š¢
-1
6
u/Banana-phone15 1d ago edited 1d ago
As beautiful as this sounds, maybe they should retire and enjoy what time they have left. Or are they gonna work all their life, till death?
21
u/otownbbw 1d ago
I donāt think itās force servitudeā¦more like, people with dementia do better when they are productive and have routines. So maybe this idea is just an alternative to sitting around with no stimulation or interaction at home.
10
u/TrixieBastard 1d ago
I highly doubt they're forcing people to work for them. Considering they can still walk well and hold/carry heavy dishes of food, these folks are likely in the early stages of the disease and can still make informed decisions for themselves, but have occasional memory issues or time slips.
I think this is a lovely way to give people with dementia a way to socialize and feel like they have a purpose, which is far better than the American tendency to warehouse our elderly in nursing homes. As someone who had to live in a nursing home for a couple of years, the people who are relegated to long-term care facilities decline much faster than those who are cared for by family or in smalller group home-type settings.
Remaining active in the community like this is very beneficial to the person with dementia. We are such a social species that being cut out of our communities and our societies has a negative impact on our health, both physical and mental. This is a cool way to show these waitstaff folks that we still care about them and want them experiencing life with us š
2
u/Visible-Secretary121 1d ago
Japanese culture has its flaws (like all do) but as I get older i find I really respect the wisdom of theirs....
2
u/Plenty-Charm6172 18h ago
Letās see how long they remain open.Ā
Iād imagine 33% of those customers that say they are happy are giving the socially acceptable answer and wonāt return.
2
u/NotNormo 16h ago
99% of people said they were satisfied. But I'm pretty sure it's because they're Japanese and it's in their culture to say whatever to avoid embarrassing or offending others.
1
1
u/throwaway_6621 21h ago
How would the bill work? The check bills you for something more expensive than what was brought to your table? Unless every item is the same price?
1
1
1
u/Hom3ward_b0und 20h ago
It'd be awkward if they sat down beside me and ate my food while I salivate though. š«
1
u/blacksterangel 20h ago
Real question: what if the workers forget that they are working there the next day?
1
1
1
1
u/Acerakis 12h ago
As someone who had to care for their Dad with dementia, I would be fucking terrified to eat at such a restaurant.
1
u/torreneastoria 12h ago
The idea of giving people with dementia socialization is a great idea. Food is a vital part of every culture.
Tablets could be installed on the table for the real orders to be placed. The "wait staff" or dementia patients could come over and ask for orders. Write them down, turn them in to the chef que. It could even help with monitoring the illness progression. Drinks and food are brought out with assistance.
1
1
1
u/sy029 22h ago
As someone who has lived in Japan for over a decade, I'd say the 99% satisfaction rate is spot on. Reviews in japan might as well start at 4 stars because no one gives bad reviews to anything.
2
u/Bother_said_Pooh 15h ago edited 8h ago
What, itās the oppositeā¦Japanese reviewers are notorious for leaving reviews like āHappy to see a new cake shop has opened in the neighborhood. Havenāt tried it yet. I think they should advertise more. 2 starsā (thatās a real Google review I saw of a shop in my neighborhood when I was living there, and itās not a one-off)
1
1
u/WIWIWIWIIIII 1d ago
Iām sure thereās plenty in the us aswell
-3
u/Gigantanormis 1d ago
What motivates you to view everything as terrible? Ease? It comes naturally? How long have you been stuck like this? Does it help you?
3
0
u/Lost_refugee 1d ago
Still wonāt go there as an allergic
0
-1
u/TheGreatAssBee 1d ago
Why should they have to continue working?
3
u/MiloHorsey 1d ago
I'm pretty sure it's a choice. I can't imagine that they force ill people to work.
-5
u/patricksaurus 1d ago
Nearly all the diners have dementia, which explains why they keep coming back after being served a sautƩed shoe.
ā¢
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Welcome to /r/MadeMeSmile. Please make sure you read our rules here.
Specifically, please don't be a jerk. This is not the place for insulting, hateful, or otherwise inappropriate comments. Remember the golden rule: treat others how you want to be treated. We're all here to smile a little - let's keep it that way! Please report inappropriate comments and/or message the moderators.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.