He offers no advice, no conversation, no judgment. Thousands of people have paid him just to be present.
An Unusual Business
Shoji Morimoto, a 38-year-old resident of Tokyo, earns a living renting himself out as a companion who does essentially nothing. Known online as "Rental-san," he charges 10,000 yen (roughly $85) per session for tasks as simple as sitting with someone at lunch, waving someone off at a train station, or just being present. "I offer myself for rent, as a person who does nothing," he wrote in a 2018 tweet that launched the concept publicly. He has since fulfilled more than 4,000 paid requests.
Finding the Idea
Morimoto holds a master's degree in physics from Osaka University but struggled to find a conventional career path, repeatedly hearing feedback that he lacked initiative. He eventually reframed that trait as a business rather than a flaw. "I was often told that I wasn't doing enough, or that I wasn't doing anything, so this became a complex for me," he said. "I decided to take advantage of this and make it into a business."
Why People Hire Him
Morimoto, who is naturally introverted, has said clients often open up more easily to a stranger with no personal stake in their lives. "I think when people are feeling vulnerable... they become more sensitive toward people that are close to them," he said. "So I think they want to just reach out to a stranger without any strings attached." One client, a divorced woman named Akari Shirai, hired him to accompany her to her favorite restaurant so she could eat without dwelling on her ex-husband, later describing the experience as the first time she had eaten in complete, comfortable silence.
The Weight of the Work
Not every request is simple. Morimoto has been asked to accompany someone back to the site of a past suicide attempt to help them process the experience, and has sat with people carrying difficult, hidden histories that aren't visible on the surface. "Everyone, even the ones that seem well, all have their own sets of problems and secrets," he said.
Boundaries
Morimoto declines requests involving activities like posing nude or cleaning homes, focusing instead on what he considers genuine, meaningful requests for presence and companionship.
FAQ
How much does Shoji Morimoto charge?
10,000 yen (about $85) per session, plus reimbursement for any expenses like meals or transportation.
What does he actually do for clients?
Very little by design -- he accompanies people to appointments, meals, or events, offering quiet, judgment-free presence rather than conversation or advice.
Has anyone else offered a similar service?
Yes. Comparable companionship-for-hire services have emerged in both Japan and South Korea in response to similar social needs.