Akiba Maids planting herbs at Akihabara Vegetable Garden (on June 15, 2017, in Akihabara, Tokyo)
On June 15, 2017, an Akihabara-based NPO group Licolita planted pakchi (coriander) seeds as well as young basil and mint on a rooftop garden at The Japan Agricultural News building in Akihabara, Tokyo. The event is part of Akihabara Vegetable Garden Project, which is now in the ninth year. For the first seven years, the environmental NPO grew rice in buckets. However, starting from last year, it’s growing herbs that can be eaten soon after harvesting. Five “Akiba maids”, who are waitresses working at costume play restaurants and cafes in Akihabara, also took part in the event.
Last year, all their pakchi was lost because of the typhoons and dry weather. “We’ve learnt a bitter lesson from last year’s experience and we’ll never let them go dry or lost this year,” said Takeyuki Sanada, director of Licolita. One of the Akiba maids, Maya from a railway-themed pub named “Little TGV,” said, “I’m looking forward to harvesting them and seeing our customers enjoying them.” In autumn, the NPO will have a harvest festival.