Let's treat the next person. What to treat them with? It's your choice.

October 2, 2009 9:44 AM

Then, according to Noby, as quickly as it appeared, the Ogori cafe was gone.(via Matt. Hi, Matt!)
posted by boo_radley (20 comments total)

Weird idea, but I'm sure the person ahead of me would order the Happy Mustard Squid Milkshake and I would be very sad.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 9:49 AM on October 2

What an interesting idea! I don't think it would go over too well in the U.S., but I loved reading this story. Thanks for sharing. : )
posted by too bad you're not me at 9:50 AM on October 2

I was going to click the link, but there is no cabel.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 9:55 AM on October 2

If you were going to favourite this comment, please don't; instead, favourite the comment below this one.
posted by oulipian at 9:57 AM on October 2 [2 favorites]

That's very cool. I love the guy who went ahead and bought a ton of things for the next person.
posted by flatluigi at 9:57 AM on October 2 [35 favorites]

The Far Side: If Bernie Madoff had lived in Japan and run a café...
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:57 AM on October 2

That's a neat idea. And I love what they did before they left. :)
posted by zarq at 9:58 AM on October 2

That's super fun. I love the ways Japanese propriety allows for different kinds of social experimentation and play than we would think of here in the US.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:00 AM on October 2

I don't think it would go over too well in the U.S.

They already have it in the USA. For instance, this woman ordered a Western BBQ Burger but got what the person in front of her ordered. She wasn't happy about it.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 10:01 AM on October 2 [3 favorites]

I love this story. If only we lived in a world where such a business was financially sustainable.

See also: Cabel's account of how his company, a developer of Mac software, became the only official retailer of Katamari Damacy merchandise.
posted by martens at 10:02 AM on October 2 [2 favorites]

From the comments:

This is essentially a bit of high-concept performance art. See here:

http://www.mitsuifudosan.co.jp/corporate/news/2008/0418/index.html

(The artist) Eat & Art Taro was born in 1979 in Kanagawa Prefecture. He leads food-themed workshops, produces menus for museum cafes, and is engaged in various activities relating to the intersection of food and art. Ogori Cafe is his creation.

The link's in Japanese, though.
posted by boo_radley at 10:07 AM on October 2 [1 favorite]

If you were going to favourite this comment, please don't; instead, favourite the comment below this one.

I was actually gonna favourite the post, but now creepy Letterman gets it instead.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:21 AM on October 2

Damn, that Matt guy is blogging like his ass is on fire. Subscribed!
posted by gleuschk at 10:21 AM on October 2

This sounds fun! I think next time we eat out, we can order for the person to our right/left (taking into consideration what your neighbor is allergic to or just doesn't eat)

Probably to preserve the secrecy, the menu choices can be written on to scrap pieces to be passed to the waitperson.
posted by Seboshin at 10:51 AM on October 2

This brings back fond memories of Kyoto's cafe culture. In urban Japan you can find all sorts of surprising stuff like this, usually one person's brainchild. For example, there was a "Christian vegan" cafe that served the world's best rice curry, that I returned to again and again.
posted by shii at 11:30 AM on October 2

I was just about to post the same thing as boo_radley. These kinds of art-concept cafes and stores pop up often in Japan. Looks like this one was only open for two days, during the Golden Week holiday in May.

Neat idea, but I think one best suited to a temporary cafe.
posted by armage at 4:19 PM on October 2

This idea can't really work in a country whose population is known for quirky diets, a wide variety of food allegies, ego-centric social attitudes, and short tempers from a reaction to temporary upsets.
posted by Down10 at 5:10 PM on October 2

Delighted! I entirely forgot how I had gotten to that page, or why I was reading it.
posted by the Real Dan at 9:37 PM on October 2

I have more favorites on that comment than for posts I've put a ton of effort into. :I
posted by flatluigi at 12:55 PM on October 3 [1 favorite]

In the same vein, someone has set up "Mystery Google" which gives the previous searcher's results.
posted by zarq at 8:02 AM on October 7