A new snack bar in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward has introduced a novel approach to hospitality by employing remote operators who control avatar robots to serve customers. The establishment, named OrySnack, opened in August inside Avatar Robot Cafe Dawn ver. β, which itself was launched in 2021 by OryLab Inc., the developer of the OriHime avatar robot.

OrySnack revives the traditional Japanese “snack” bar concept, a social venue typically managed by a “mama” who engages customers in conversation while serving drinks. Unlike conventional snack bars, OrySnack’s staff work remotely, operating robots to interact with patrons, a model designed to provide employment opportunities to individuals unable to commute due to illness, disability, pregnancy, caregiving duties, or other personal circumstances.

Currently, about 100 operators are registered to work through the café, which draws approximately 60,000 visitors annually from Japan and abroad. The bar experience emphasizes personal interaction, with six remote operators per shift conducting one-on-one conversations with customers via cameras and speakers embedded in the robots. The larger OriHime-D robot, equipped with movable arms, allows operators to perform gestures such as raising a glass to toast.

On September 9, an operator known as Guro Mama, aged 59, who has muscular dystrophy, served customers remotely from her home in Tokyo. She provided detailed descriptions of four selected varieties of sake offered at the bar and engaged warmly with visitors on a range of topics. One customer, a 52-year-old office worker, noted that Guro Mama’s knowledge and stories about her remote work experiences in locations such as Germany and Kyoto enhanced the overall atmosphere, stating the visit expanded his perception of typical snack bar offerings.

OrySnack currently operates daily from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., with sessions lasting about 70 minutes. Reservations are mandatory and limited to groups of up to four individuals, with the possibility of sharing tables among different parties.

Building on the original venue’s concept, a second OrySnack location is planned to open in Kyoto in December, further expanding the reach of this innovative approach to inclusive employment and social interaction.