In a frenetic metropolis like Tokyo, a revolutionary project inverts the paradigm: no longer perfect and rapid service, but "wrong" and unhurried orders. It's called exactly that, "Restaurant of Mistaken Orders," a name that faithfully promises the experience you experience inside. Here, receiving what you order is by no means guaranteed. The reason? The waiters are all over eighty and suffering from dementia.
The Restaurant of Wrong Orders' Project in Japan
The idea was born from the mind of Shiro Oguni, who wanted to hire only eighty-year-olds suffering from various forms of dementia. In this restaurant, therefore, mistakes are not considered failures, but are the essence of the experience: in fact, approximately 30% of orders are not fulfilled, yet 90% of visitors leave positive reviews. This initiative was inevitable in Japan, one of the countries with the highest percentage of elderly people in the world. The project fits into a specific context, the so-called Silver Economy, seeking to redefine aging. The restaurant is therefore also a response to a demographic reality that, from a certain point of view, is worrying: it is estimated that approximately 30% of the population is over 65.
A significant percentage of these people suffer from dementia, but rather than being marginalized, they wish to continue participating in social life and "normal" daily activities. This focus on inclusion in Japan has resulted in the "wrong order" restaurant, where customers enter the restaurant knowing exactly what to expect: a slow pace, genuine smiles, and a dish they didn't order. This demonstrates that a mistake doesn't necessarily have to be seen as a failure, but can become a sought-after and even appreciated experience.
There's Also The Orange Day of Sengawa
In the wake of this somewhat paradoxical philosophy, given Japan's frenetic pace, other initiatives have emerged, including Orange Day in Sengawa, a suburb of Tokyo. All these initiatives are part of the "General Framework of Measures in an Aging Society," an inclusive five-year plan to create a social environment where age does not represent a barrier to daily activities. Here, a restaurant open for lunch and dinner is managed for one day a month by the Akiko Kanna association: the concept is always the same: simple, smiling service, even if it isn't always accurate.
Many of the customers are even family members of the waiters or are in some way living with dementia, even indirectly, at home or at work. "The bar isn't just a place to be accepted, it's an opportunity to demonstrate that even those with dementia can still do something for others," explained project promoter Kanna. At the end of their shifts, these "special" waiters collect their day's pay. A meaningful gesture that goes beyond payment, but is intended as a thank you to those who, despite their age and psychological and physical frailties, want to make themselves available to society.
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