JAPANESE MAN DOES NOTHING, GETS PAID FOR IT

In Japan, a man provides an unusual rental service to his clients in Tokyo. Shoji Morimoto hires himself out to people just to stand near them, or sit near them, or accompany them somewhere. Morimoto rents himself out to clients who simply don’t want to be alone. He doesn’t speak unless his client asks him a question. If he answers, he gives a short answer and doesn’t engage in a longer conversation. He just shows up at whatever event or activity he has been hired to attend. It doesn’t sound like much, but he is in high demand, scheduling one to three sessions a day. He charges $85, plus you have to pay for any food or travel expenses.
– One man hired him to stand on the train platform and wave goodbye to him as he left to live in another city.
– A new restaurant hired him just to come sit inside and eat, because they didn’t want the place to look empty.
– Some people hire him to stand by them when they have some bad news to tell a family member or friend.
– One woman had a friend who committed suicide, and hired him to listen to her talk through her memories and emotions.
– Mostly, he says, people hire him when they want somebody to be there, and then leave with no strings attached.
* This guy is a real good-for-nothing.
* Sounds like the same job as a bartender, only without serving drinks or getting tips.
* When the jobs are really simple, he just uses a mannequin.
* At last, something my kid would be good at.
* Oh, darn – this just in – he’s been replaced by one of those Japanese companion robots. Tough break.