In Photos: 'Bear' employees seeking mental support serve customers at Osaka cafe

A boy touches the hand of an employee dressed up as a bear at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)

An employee dressed up as a bear serves a drink to a customer at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)

A boy looks at a drink served by an employee dressed up as a bear at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)

A woman shakes hands with an employee dressed up as a bear at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)

A boy touches the hand of an employee dressed up as a bear at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)

An employee dressed up as a bear waves at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)

A customer is served a drink by an employee dressed up as a bear at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)

An employee dressed up as a bear waves at a customer they served at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)

A special drink served only at "Kuma no Te Cafe" at Hankyu Department Store's Umeda flagship branch is seen in Osaka's Kita Ward on Jan. 20, 2023. (Mainichi/Maiko Umeda)