Perhaps you've been at a loss when invited to a gathering and expected to bring a "plus one." Luckily for those who have, Shoji Morimoto of Japan can fill that need, or just be someone to fill any space for hire without judgement or conversation:
"For years, there’s been a cottage industry in Japan and South Korea of renting strangers to impersonate friends, family members or other acquaintances, as a way to save face at social functions where plus-ones are expected.
But over the past four years, Shoji Morimoto, 38, has built a cult following by offering himself as a warm body who can simply be there, liberating his clients from the social expectations of the spoken and unspoken norms of Japanese society. Morimoto — nicknamed “Rental-san,” incorporating an honorific — has inspired a television series and three books and has drawn international attention through his viral social media posts." (our emphasis)
Morimoto has played the role of accompanying a woman to file her divorce papers, a friendly face greeting the client at the end of a marathon, sitting with someone completing his thesis to keep him focused, and even accompanying a client for a discussion of hemorrhoid surgery with his doctor.
Morimoto got into his career as a "do-nothing" guy" when he was fired from jobs after being told "he wasn’t doing enough and didn’t have enough initiative to succeed." Today, he's provided his "service" to some 4,000, at a clip of $85 per session. We'd like to know if he has franchise opportunities in the U.S., you know, to supplement this blogging gig.
(photo: Morimoto is ready to do nothing. Facebook)
