Anna Miller's

Anna Miller's
Founded1973
Headquarters
United States

Anna Miller's (アンナミラーズ, Anna Mirāzu) is a chain of restaurants in Hawaii and, formerly, Japan. The first branch opened in 1973 in Hawaii.[1] Starting that same year, it expanded to 25 locations in Japan.[2][3]

The chain was also famous in Japan for their waitress uniforms.[4] These consisted of a white blouse; an orange or pink miniskirted jumper-style dress, with the "waistline" cut beneath the breasts, in the manner of a bodice; a matching apron; and a heart-shaped name tag.[5][6] In Japan, the outfit most likely helped to establish the phenomenon of the maid café.[7][8]

In June 2022, parent corporation Imuraya announced that the last active Anna Miller's restaurant in Japan, located in Takanawa, would close on August 31, 2022. The restaurant, which opened in 1983, was the 11th of 25 restaurants in the chain.[9] As a result of the closure, the restaurant in Hawaii has served as the last Anna Miller’s restaurant in the world.[10][11] However, Anna Miller's maintained an online shop in Japan[12][13] and briefly opened a popup shop at Tokyo's Koenji Station in late 2022, albeit without the iconic uniforms.[14]

In June 2025, Japan Today reported that as of December 2025, there would a there would be a branch opening in Tokyo’s Minami-Aoyama.[12] However, as of November 25, 2025, Anna Miller's Japanese website announced that it would be delayed until an anticipated date of February 2026.[15]

Cultural references

Ann Miller's "iconic waitress uniforms ... have appeared as hommages and parodies in numerous anime, manga, and video game series"[16] and inspired cosplay.[7]

  • Yuka Takeuchi, the main character from the video game series Variable Geo (and its anime spin-off) wears waitress uniform from Anna Miller's[4] during battle, where the restaurant is called "Hanna Miller's".
  • In 1997 drama "Risou no Kekkon" also known in its English title "Wedding Story", the protagonist character Yamada Mari, played by Tokiwa Takako was shown working as a waitress at Anna Miller's.[17]
  • In the anime series Excel Saga, the characters Excel and Hyatt work in a cafe wearing Anna Miller's waitress uniforms.[2]
  • In the anime series Oh My Goddess!, the character Urd works in the restaurant "Ana Miller's" later in the series, wearing the same uniform.[2]
  • In the Japanese visual novel Welcome to Pia Carrot, the action revolves around restaurants in the fictional "Pia Carrot" chain similar to Anna Miller's.[4][2]
  • In the popular web comic MegaTokyo one of the main female characters, Nanasawa Kimiko, works as a waitress at an Anna Millers in Tokyo.[18]
  • Akira Uehara, main character from Your and My Secret (Boku to Kanojo no XXX) works at Anna Miller's restaurant.[2]
  • In Clock Tower one of the lead characters, Jennifer Simpson, has an unlockable Anna Miller’s like waitress uniform.[19]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Anna Miller's Restaurant". Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Anna Miller's, American diner known for tasty pies and iconic uniform, to close last branch in Japan". grape Japan. June 14, 2022. Archived from the original on September 23, 2023. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  3. ^ Baseel, Casey (June 14, 2022). "End of the line for Japan's absolute favorite waitress uniform and one of its favorite pie places". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Ashcraft, Brian (January 31, 2012). "The Waitress Uniform That Started It All". Kotaku. Archived from the original on September 27, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2025. For a generation, Anna Miller's was more than a coffee shop. For a generation, it inspired video games, anime, and countless cosplay
  5. ^ "©Murakami Curriculum Guide for Educators" (PDF). Exhibition organized by The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, February 17 - May 31, 2009. Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. 2009. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 4, 2014.
  6. ^ Fang, Thuy (March 21, 2025). "Restaurants in Tokyo That Need to Come Back! (Opinion)". TokyoTreat: Japanese Candy & Snacks Subscription Boxes. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  7. ^ a b Hochman, David (June 25, 2008). "Another Japanese Import: Maids Who Take Orders in Restaurants". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  8. ^ Tse, Yvonne (October 26, 2017). "The Beaver". Home -. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  9. ^ "アンナミラーズ高輪店閉店のお知らせ" [Anna Miller's Takanawa store closure announcement]. 井村屋株式会社 [Imuraya Co., Ltd.] (in Japanese). March 20, 2025. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  10. ^ Yee, Chelsee (June 16, 2022). "Anna Miller's in Hawaii to soon be the last one ever". KHON2. Archived from the original on July 1, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  11. ^ Shimogawa, Duane (June 16, 2022). "Hawaii to have world's only Anna Miller's restaurant". KITV Island News. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Baseel, Casey (June 29, 2025). "Legendary pie shop Anna Miller's is returning to Tokyo, bringing iconic waitress uniforms with it". Japan Today. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  13. ^ "Anna Miller's Takanawa Store is Back as a Virtual Shop". annamillersrestaurant.jp. October 17, 2022. Archived from the original on October 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Baseel, Casey (December 9, 2022). "Legendary pie shop Anna Miller's returns to Tokyo with station popup shop【Taste test】". SoraNews24 -Japan News-. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  15. ^ "Delayed Opening of Anna Miller's Minami-Aoyama Store". annamillersrestaurant.jp. November 25, 2025. Archived from the original on December 10, 2025. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  16. ^ "After 40 years, the final Anna Miller's cafe in Japan closing down". Japan Today. June 15, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  17. ^ "Risou no Kekkon eps 1-4". HamsapSukebe. September 25, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  18. ^ Gallagher III, Frederick M. (October 16, 2000). "Anna Millers [28]". MegaTokyo. Archived from the original on May 14, 2007. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
  19. ^ "El Vestuario de Jennifer Simpson en Clock Tower". CityGame (in Spanish). April 30, 2013. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
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