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INTERVIEWS BY TOMOKAZU KOSUGA
TRANSLATED BY LENA OISHI
PHOTOS BY TAKAAKI TANAKA


KAYA
Vice: How long has it been since you started working at Pomeranian?

Kaya: I’ve been with Pomeranian since it opened, so that’s a month and a year now.

Where did you find out about it?

Well, before Pomeranian became Pomeranian, there was group called Utahime Party [Songstress Party] that hosted events. Like Pomeranian, this was also a place where fat people would get together, do cosplay, and just kind of enjoy themselves. I used to be one of the staff at those events and Ichigo used to host them. One day she came to me and offered me a job here.

What’s your maid character?

Well, at Pomeranian most of the girls are bright or cheerful, and there was no one here doing the opposite. So my maid character is a serious, strict kind of person.

What do you do to put across your serious side when in character?

There are things like not dyeing your hair and always watching your behavior. It’s pretty difficult.

What about when you talk?

When talking to customers, I’m careful not to make mistakes with my keigo [a very polite way of speaking in Japanese]. I have to look things up pretty regularly to make sure I’m getting it right.

And how do the customers react?

Some tell me they like it, while others have said they find the character too rigid.

Do you ever wish you could lose weight?

Sure, as a girl there is always the idea of wanting to lose weight, but then I have Pomeranian.

What’s changed for you since becoming a maid at Pomeranian?

I always said to myself, “I must lose weight, I must lose weight,” but since working here I now think, “There’s nothing wrong with being fat.” Being able to accept myself in that way has been a huge change. I’m a more confident person, and other people have said I’ve become more positive.

What’s good about being chubby?

The best thing is when you eat. People often say, “Wow, what you’re eating looks really tasty,” or “You really know how to enjoy yourself.” Hearing things like that makes me feel like people accept and like me, and it also means I get to eat loads. Meals are fun!


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