The story of Shoji Morimoto

Shoji Morimoto recognized the challenges faced by countless Tokyo residents in dealing with social anxieties, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, considering the city's staggering population of over 37 million. To address this issue and alleviate feelings of loneliness, Morimoto devised a service.

Shoji Morimoto, a 38-year-old individual, earns a living by offering his services for those who prefer not to be alone. Referred to as "Rental-san," Morimoto charges 10,000 yen (around $85) per session. His range of services includes accompanying divorced individuals for lunch or bidding farewell as clients board their bullet trains.

“I offer myself for rent, as a person who does nothing,” he tweeted in June 2018. “Is it difficult for you to enter a shop on your own? Are you missing a player on your team? Do you need someone to keep a place for you? I can’t do anything except easy things.”

At first, Morimoto provided his services without charge, but he has now fulfilled over 4,000 paid requests. He is a husband and father who supports his family with two sources of income while taking care of his son. Morimoto's charming presence on social media has gained him immense popularity nationwide, leading to books and a television series inspired by his story.

Contrary to his line of work, Morimoto is not lazy. He holds a master's degree in physics from Osaka University and faced challenges in finding a traditional career before his current occupation. However, after receiving repeated feedback about lacking initiative, he discovered the value of embracing idleness as a blessing.

“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.”

 

As reported by The Washington Post, Morimoto finds the self-made gig to be a good fit for him. He is naturally introverted and tends to be quiet when he is not working. Getting paid to listen to others or accompany them on errands is both effortless and fulfilling for him. Sporting his recognizable blue baseball cap and hoodie, he spends time with one to two clients per day and gains valuable insights from these experiences.

“I think when people are feeling vulnerable or are in their intimate moments, they become more sensitive toward people that are close to them, like how they will be perceived, or the kind of actions they will take for them,” said Morimoto. “So I think they want to just reach out to a stranger without any strings attached.”

Both Japan and South Korea have previously introduced comparable services to address similar needs. People in these countries have found themselves in situations where they require a paid stranger to accompany them to social events or pretend to be a close friend when they don't have one. In fact, there is even a man who markets himself as unattractive and rents himself out to make his clients appear more appealing by comparison.

Unlike others in the field, Morimoto does not rely on gimmicks. CBS News reports that he declines requests to engage in activities like posing nude or cleaning homes, only accepting genuine and meaningful requests. For instance, when Akari Shirai, a divorcee, desired a peaceful dining experience at her favorite restaurant without thoughts of her ex-husband, she hired Morimoto as a companion for the occasion.

When divorcee Akari Shirai wanted to dine at her favorite restaurant without thinking about her ex-husband, she hired him to accompany her

“I felt like I was with someone but at the same time felt like I wasn’t, since he existed in a way where I didn’t have to be attentive to his needs or think about him,” she said. “I felt no awkwardness or pressure to speak. It may have been the first time I’ve eaten in complete silence.”

 

The 45-minute lunch turned out to be a positive experience for both Shirai and Morimoto. Shirai was able to enjoy her meal in the presence of a neutral person, while Morimoto received generous compensation and a satisfying meal. Whenever Shirai shared photos of her wedding or recounted stories, Morimoto responded with a brief chuckle or a few words.

On the other hand, some clients have faced more challenging situations. For instance, one person asked Morimoto to accompany them as they returned to the place where they had attempted suicide, seeking support in processing their trauma.

Sometimes he is hired to bid someone a farewell

“Even if people look normal and fine on the surface, they often have shocking pasts or secrets, or impossible problems,” he said. “People who come to me with crazy problems, they’re usually not people who look like they’re suffering … Everyone, even the ones that seem well, all have their own sets of problems and secrets.”

Since Morimoto started providing his services, he has helped healthcare workers who are tired from the pandemic, cheered on clients during marathons, and said goodbye to people as if they were his closest friends. Rather than judging clients for their perceived shortcomings, he offers them companionship and discovers something new every day.

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