A slightly unusual café has appeared in a department store in Osaka, where instead of a waiter showing his face at the counter, a "bear's hand" extends through a curtained window to hand over the goods.

This "Kumanote Cafe" is open for a limited time in the corner of the Valentine's Day Fair held at Hankyu Umeda Main Store in Kita Ward, Osaka.



The order counter has a window covered with walls and curtains.



Customers cannot see the store clerk.

When the cafe's products are ready, a "bear hand" covered with fluffy fur will come out and hand over the products.

A 6-year-old girl who ordered a parfait shook hands with the bear that came out of the window and waved her hand, happily saying, "It was cute."

Customer service without face-to-face “work with peace of mind”

Those who work as "bear hands" are people who are not good at socializing, such as those who are depressed or easily depressed.



At this cafe, you can work with peace of mind because you can serve customers without face-to-face.



You can also see the customer's reaction through the monitor.

A 19-year-old college student has an eating disorder and has been absent from college since April last year, but he is regaining his confidence while working at the "Kumanote Cafe".

A university student said, "During my leave of absence, I didn't see anyone, so I often thought about it by myself, but being able to go outside like this is a lot of fun. The customers are also very kind, so I feel fulfilled every day." I was worried about whether people at work would understand eating disorders, but I think I was able to make a new start with peace of mind."

Another 20-year-old university student commented, "At a normal part-time job, I have to face customers and interact with people a lot, but here I feel safe with just my hands. Wearing bear gloves, I've come to feel that the customers are happy and that I'm not afraid to interact with people."

Softly connecting people

“Kuma no Te Café” opened at a counselor training school in Yao City, Osaka.



There is also a staff member who is qualified as a counselor in the store, and it is a system to support you if you have a problem.



Through the cafe, I would like to support and connect people softly.

Principal Yuichiro Hiramura, who runs the school, said, ``By having a single wall in between, even sensitive people who are easily hurt can work with a sense of security. It's okay to do it, it's okay to take it slow, I hope I can throw a stone that spreads that kind of society."