Stories
Japan's Loneliness Economy: Man Earns $80,000 Annually Just By Being There
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Moneycontrol•25-09-2026, 14:47
Japan's Loneliness Economy: Man Earns $80,000 Annually Just By Being There
- •Shoji Morimoto, 42, earns approximately $80,000 a year by being hired simply to exist alongside people, receiving around 1,000 requests annually.
- •His service is part of Japan's growing market for paid companionship, where individuals can rent friends or companions for various activities.
- •Filmmaker Hikari's research for 'Rental Family' indicates about 300 companies offer such rental services in Japan.
- •The demand for these services is driven by a significant social problem of loneliness, with a 2024 survey showing 39.3% of Japanese adults feeling lonely to some degree.
- •Changing household structures, with single-person households projected to reach 44.3% by 2050, contribute to the expanding market for companionship services.
Key Questions Answered
Shoji Morimoto earns around $80,000 a year by being hired simply to exist alongside people and provide paid companionship.
According to filmmaker Hikari, who researched the sector for her film 'Rental Family', there are currently 300 companies offering paid companionship services in Japan.
Japan's Cabinet Office national survey conducted in 2024 found that 39.3% of participants felt lonely to some degree.
