Ever heard of the 'rent-a-man' service? We bet it's not what you think it is...
Imagine getting paid to do nothing...
A man from Japan admits that he doesn't try very hard at his job, but absolutely loves it. In fact, that is the very reason that he is so good at his job.
"The 38-year-old Japanese man offers his services — or lack thereof — as a so-called "rent-a-man. People pay him to join them in activities ranging from the mundane, like having a meal, to the extreme, like listening to a murder confession." (Business Insider)
I lend myself out to do nothing, which means I don't make any special effort. I don't initiate conversation. I reply to chitchat, but that's it.
Shoji Morimoto found his feet in this job when he became unemployed in 2018. He started a Twitter account, "Do Nothing Rent-A-Man", to advertise his services.
He currently has around 200,000 followers and obviously has a market. Morimoto shared how he has remained constantly amazed at the varied personalities, circumstances, and situations of his clients.
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Some people are lonesome. Some feel it's a shame to go somewhere (interesting) alone — they want someone to share their impressions with. 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.
"He books up to three gigs a day and has completed more than 3,000 so far. His past gigs include sharing a coffee in silence, listening to a busker, sharing cake with someone on their birthday, accompanying people to restaurants and shops, and joining a client on a swing set." (Business Insider)
However, he has turned down certain jobs in the past, that have included cleaning houses, doing laundry, posing nude, and becoming someone's friend. Uh, posing nude? Like, seriously...
As much as his work may sound tedious to many, the country has reported that many people have struggled with managing loneliness and social isolation. This could be a bi-product of the pandemic.
And therefore as much as it may sound simple, the effects of not feeling alone and not having any strings or judgement attached to that can be therapeutic. He is ultimately helping people in the most valuable way...
Image Courtesy of Facebook