Lonesome Japanese Resort To Renting Friends

By Staff

Tuesday, September 22, 2009, 11:17

Mechanical lifestyle has landed the lonesome Japanese to rent a friend, husband, wife boss, uncle for solace. The rent a friend agencies are soaring high with about 10 in the past eight years. The most famous one boasts of 1,000 people in its books.

Ryuichi Ichinokawa launched his Hagemashi Tai (I Want to Cheer You Up) agency, giving up his plans of becoming a qualified counsellor. He actually works for a toy manufacturing company and takes days off from his work to attend to his assignment. He said that after having played the part of best man in a wedding and delivered a speech, requests came pouring in. He at present employs about thirty people who has the deft and personality and can jump into the mould of a temporary identity. Ryuichi Ichinokawa meticulously prepares for an event, observing every possible question to be answered correctly. A wrong answer or a no answer could take a toll over his reputation.

"In three and a half years I've never once been caught out," he added.

IChinokawa charges about 15,000-yen to make it at a wedding party, however the client should be ready to pay extra money if they are asked to make a speech or to sing karaoke.