Ultimately, perhaps some of these people are really looking for a therapist.
Is it therapy though? It feels more like they’re buying slim verticals you’d normally “get” in a romantic relationship.
'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
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Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#22Ultimately, perhaps some of these people are really looking for a therapist.
... but without the stigma.
But I think the guy himself has a point when he says he lowers the bar. Think how many different jobs (or "roles") there that can be ranked in a kind of hierarchy: not in the sense of a career ladder, but in services and expertise offered. Between the bottom of this hierarchy, and nothing, is a gap to fill.
Take for example personal protection. Sure, if I need a high tier of that service, I could get myself a bodyguard, maybe one of those with ex-military experience and all the combat training etc. Between that and "nothing" is a random joe who tags along to the Tinder date, like this guy.
Or sure I could meet a licensed therapist. Don't want to? Can meet a friend. Don't have one? This random dude to the rescue.
Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#23If you think about it, it's a bit surprising how many people, you think, couldn't do his job.
I've heard it's more like an acting role.
You can't literally do nothing.
Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#24> Morimoto receives words of gratitude from customers who state that "the act of doing nothing serves as support." However, he remains nonchalant about the praise, saying, "I'm not doing it for that purpose, so my only response is, 'Oh, really?'" He also doesn't want his work to be seen as an act of charity.
> "I'm not a friend or an acquaintance. I'm free of the bothersome things that accompany relationships, but can ease people's sense of loneliness. Maybe it's something like that for me," Morimoto told the Mainichi Shimbun.
People can derive support from Morimoto, but he doesn't intend to provide them that support. That lack of intention makes his service simple and allows people to get what they want from him.
How genuine.
Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#25[deleted]
Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#26Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#27Ultimately, perhaps some of these people are really looking for a therapist.
I 've seen people react with a "oh so wacky japan" attitude when something like this pops up. But I agree with you, this is nothing more than a form of therapy. > Another reflected, "I had been slack about visiting the hospital, but I went because he came with me." I have seen multiple people be much more eager and diligent in taking a pet to the vet, than taking care of theirselves (due to fear, shame, and an if you…
Well, in the US at least a vet is significantly less expensive.
Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#28Earlier quoted context omitted.
This and similar support jobs (mental health type jobs) are probably the hardest jobs in the world. Not only for the person doing it, but the requirements for such a thing are just astronomical and not really something you can learn. You can learn aspects of it, but to excel it requires a certain type of person.
apparently one of the things people hire this guy for is just to wave goodbye when they move away. I agree not just anyone could do that in an appropriately sensitive way, but to say the requirements are astronomical seems like an overstatement.
This reminds me of professional mourning [1]. Throughout history there have been professionals that help families grieve in different ways. Hiring someone to wave goodbye when you move strikes me as a similar function. Both are offering emotional services during a time of transition, albeit in very different ways.
Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#29I wonder if you can rent him to sit in Zoom meetings doing nothing.
Re: 'Rent-a-person who does nothing' in Tokyo receives endless requests, gratitude
#30This could be turned into a great, possibly awkward, movie.
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