News of intolerance, hatred, and discrimination floods us on a daily basis. That sometimes makes us skeptical about whether kindness and goodwill still exist within mankind. However, stories from some parts of the world are so illuminating that they reinforce our faith in humanity. They are immensely heartwarming and truly food for the soul.
When mistakes are ignored and instead celebrated!
Envision a situation when you go to a restaurant and order a cup of piping hot coffee. What is instead served before you is a glass of cold milkshake. You are infuriated and express your anger at the mistake committed.
Well, there exists a totally different scenario at a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan where customers are expected and encouraged not to lose their cool when their orders are being messed up. The brainchild of television director Shiro Oguni, a unique dining concept exists in the “Restaurant of Mistaken Orders”.
During a visit to a group home with people affected by dementia, an idea sparked in Oguni’s mind. He had ordered a hamburger steak, but what landed before him was a plate of gyoza (potstickers). Rather than getting upset, Oguni reasoned that it was not that big of a mistake. If he ate whatever was served, the dining atmosphere would be peaceful, minus any drama created. This experience made him think about a project where he could involve people suffering from dementia.
It is a narrative of unconditional acceptance
Oguni’s restaurant has servers who all have dementia or some degree of cognitive impairment. He seeks to spread awareness that those individuals, despite suffering from dementia, can still work and be a part of the society.
Things go astray in this restaurant all the time. Orders are mixed up, and there are even instances when a server serves hot coffee with a straw and another shows guests their tables and sits with them. The positive side to this is that customers understand that the mistakes are unintended. The goal of this restaurant is not to aim at perfection but to make it an inclusive workplace. It seeks to spread the message that every individual has the potential to contribute to the community.
It is a story of acceptance where instead of looking at dementia as something that is disturbing and frightening, diners leave the restaurant on a friendly note, feeling happy with their hearts full.
The restaurant once shared that although 37% of the orders are mixed up, the number of customers who are satisfied with their meal stands at 99%. People who walk into this restaurant carry with them bundles of empathy, their arms full of patience and quiet grace. Peals of laughter are heard when mistakes are made. The slip-ups are viewed not as acts of insincerity or negligence but rather as something natural.
Founded in 2017, the Restaurant of Mistaken Orders is not a permanent establishment but a specifically tailored pop-up project. Since its inception, this pop-up has been set up at least 30 times. The concept has had a good response beyond Tokyo, with cafes operating in various locations throughout Japan.
A brilliant initiative to challenge stereotypes, Shiro Oguni’s project does not treat dementia as incapacity. Rather it is looked at as a situation where small mistakes need to be overlooked and embraced with warmth sans judgement.
Oguni hopes that his idea is replicated in other parts of the world, and it is indeed encouraging to learn that China, Korea, and the UK have launched similar initiatives. On the program’s website, there is information for anyone who is interested in carrying out a similar mission.
Striving for a better tomorrow
While the efficacy of medicinal cures cannot be overlooked, equally important is the power of human touch which acts as a catalyst in the healing process. Empathetic communication, kindness, and compassion can go a long way in bolstering the emotional and mental state of people suffering from dementia and other related illnesses.
It would be wonderful if countries around the world brainstormed ideas for bringing people who are otherwise marginalized into the mainstream of society. We already have a heartfelt example from the land of the rising sun!
rashmi writes 