I 'Rented a Friend' in Japan For $100

There is a man in Tokyo named Shoji Morimoto, and he makes a full time living by literally "doing nothing." If you pay $100, you can rent him for a few hours, and he will join you around Tokyo to be your companion. Want to grab a beer at the bar? He's in. Want to read a book in the park? He's in. Want to relax at home? He's in. Even though this was one of the strangest experiences I've ever had -- it's actually a pretty neat concept. And I think it can only exist in a country like Japan, where the culture is very lovely and isolated!

Would you ever consider renting Shoji for the day? Or are you too creeped out? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

#travel #japan #culture

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👨🏻‍🦰 WHO AM I?
I'm Drew Binsky and I have been to EVERY country in the world (197/197). I make documentaries about interesting people and cultures in faraway places. My ultimate goal is to inspire you to travel because I think it's the best education that you can get. And our planet is beautiful!

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[SanTM]

I feel like the point of him is being missed. He's not there to be an interactive friend. He's there to accompany people in places where being alone can be a stigma, like going to a bar or restaurant you really want to visit but have no friends available to go or you don't feel comfortable going alone for fear of mockery etc. He is meant to offer no judgement, opinion or even safety, just there to make you look like you have a friend

[DanielleLegacy]

The man really is a genius. He knows his strengths and found a way to make them lucrative. Good for him.

[malhil]

I thought the hired guy was very kind. He is an introvert and very quiet. Some people may just want to hire a companion that is not a chatter box. The world is made of all kinds of people. Be kind to one another...

[nathanielelias]

An introvert renting himself as a body to be with people so they aren't alone is genius. I'm a true introvert, and having to constantly interact with people is exhausting. He's not offering conversation, opinions, or anything. He gets to be his introverted self, all while meeting so many people and experiencing different things while getting paid to "do nothing". Amazing.

[oscarsm]

I see you say that he hires himself as a "friend", and many people comment about it as well, but as far as I understand, he doesn't offer himself as a friend at all, he even says that he would never befriend his customers. I don't undestand why the comments accuse him of being a fake friend, he offers to do nothing, and that's what he does

[oceansunset]

My friend did this in Japan in the early 90s. She was a host to corporate working men who worked long hours, had no family or girl friend. No sex involved, she just showed up and was present. They’d go to fancy bars and restaurants. Her clients were always respectful, gave her very expensive presents and were very kind to her. She was a white girl in her early 20s from Newzeland. She never felt like she was in danger.

[miyashita]

You didn’t rent a friend but you rented the do nothing guy, that is why he is so not interactive

[nicoleIre]

I would rather hire that translator as a friend, he was more interactive.

[triforceize]

Having a physics degree and being a full time fake friend as a career is wild.

[naomimoore]

It makes me so frustrated that people are misunderstanding what he is hired for. He is not hired to be a rent a friend. I doubt anyone would check it out but bbc covers more what he does and why he does it. He actually does a lot of good for people in japan. Japan is a very lonely country with all kinds of services(hire a friend, bf, gf, hire a family) there is a reason it exists in Japan. There is a demand for it. People in Japan are often overworked and don't have to time to make friends. It's sad to see people hating on this guy when he does a great service.

[learnergrowthmind]

Seems like the translator was the real friend 😂

[OrionJLRolen]

The "be there guy". Sometimes less is more, and that's all a person needs. This guy will be there for you when you don't need anything, great business model!

[masoodqureshi]

Literally this guy is an npc when he’s eating drinking & Gaming

[justme]

I think its fascinating how well the guy keeps his boundaries. Especially for a Japanese person, saying no or simply nothing to anything is so bold but probably really important for his job.

[sanahassan]

The highlight of this video was Kosuke ( the translator ), every time he said "Nothing" I couldn't control my laughter. This was an amazing video thanks Drew

[Gamey]

I love how you collaborated with shoji and your translator in the arcade and that's how you call it true friendship

[zymbotictoot]

This world is getting weirder and weirder by the day . Good on him for hustling but this is so odd.

[ٴٴٴٴٴٴٴۥ]

want to rent a friend? rent my dad. he's one of those guys to have a hour and 30 long conversation with a random dude from norway on the beach.

[maddie]

It would be interesting to hear from Japanese people who have hired him to know how these usually go with no camera or translator. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s extra awkward and quiet due to being on camera and the language barrier

[rw]

He's not a 'rent-a-friend.' He's a 'do-nothing guy, ' whose role is simply to be present without actively engaging with the customer, except for answering basic questions or eating and drinking.