Emma Narvaez
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, love is in the air – and in the market! If you’re feeling lonely during this Valentine’s season and searching for accompaniment, there is a Japanese man based in Tokyo named Shoji Morimoto who may just be the perfect date. With a fee of ¥10,000, you will be able to experience a pleasant evening with an easygoing, welcoming man that will happily listen to your needs and desires, and offer advice and assistance. However, is this fee worth the larger implications that spring from Morimoto’s superficial encounters and arguably exploitative intentions?
Shoji Morimoto is often referred to as the “Rental-Do-Nothing-Man”, offering a rather unconventional service of simply…existing. In an interview with The Japan Times, Morimoto stated, “Basically, I rent myself out. My job is to be wherever my clients want me to be and to do nothing in particular,” (2022, The Japan Times). From sitting through a five-course dinner at a Michelin star restaurant to simply waving a stranger off through a train window, Shoji Morimoto offers valuable companionship for those in need. However, doing nothing does not mean that he will do just anything. In the past, he has turned down requests to move a fridge and go to Cambodia, and will not accept requests of an illicit nature (2022, The Japan Times). Most of his clients are found through Twitter, from which he has accumulated over a quarter of a million followers. Prior to launching his do-nothing service, Morimoto worked at a publishing company, where he was scolded for his constant idling. He stated, “I started wondering what would happen if I provided my ability to ‘do nothing’ as a service to clients.” According to a report by The Japan Times, Morimoto attended 4,000 sessions in the past four years. Evidently, Shoji Morimoto truly found his calling and now uses his services as his sole source of income.
Although a distinct connection between Shoji Morimoto’s services and Japanese values can not be made, it can be inferred that the two are loosely entwined. In Japan, a sense of identity is developed through one’s social groups; reputation is highly valued and appearing as socially competent is important. Therefore, Morimoto’s services may appeal to those who are struggling to reach this expectation, as appearing as one’s friend or family member depicts a sociable facade for his client. On the other hand, Morimoto’s services may also appear to reinforce the Japanese cultural values of simplicity and minimalism. There is a Japanese concept called Ma (間), which translates to “space” or “time” and refers to the awareness of the two between objects or events, and the relationship between them (2020, Matsumoto). This concept has been applied to various aspects of Japanese culture, such as architecture, garden design, tea ceremonies, and even daily language. The notion of Ma is to appreciate the beauty of the empty intervals between things and is used to create an atmosphere of calmness and simplicity. Furthermore, Ma invites us to take a moment of reflection and acknowledge a sense of harmony in between the bustling events of daily life. Shoji Morimoto’s services can be seen as an embodiment of Ma, as he occupies time and space with his clients, oftentimes without any specific goal. By providing a non-intrusive presence and being fully in the moment with his clients, he allows them to experience a calm connection to the world around them, which is inline with the essence of Ma.
Despite the popularity of Morimoto’s services and their relation to Japanese values, it would be remiss not to acknowledge the larger ethical and social implications that arise from the concept of “renting” human companionship. After evaluating the premises of his services, many may begin to question modern relationships in today’s society, as Morimoto’s services appear to encourage loneliness and commodify human connections. The idea that nowadays even plain company can be bought and sold may be a saddening concept, especially in a society already driven by superficiality. Additionally, his services may be viewed as exploitative and even creepy, if the relationship between Morimoto and his client were to take a blurred path. Overall, the ethics involved with Morimoto’s services depends on the values and beliefs of the individual but it is important to recognize the potential benefits and harms of such services and consider their impact on broader societal values and norms.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, Shoji Morimoto’s unique services can be considered as a way to feel less lonely amongst the somewhat shallow expectations involved with the holiday. However, as we celebrate love and relationships on this day, his services can also allow us to reflect on the value we put on the genuine human connections in our lives.
Works Cited
Bateman, Tom, and Rikako Murayama. “Dream Job: The Japanese Man Who Gets Paid to Do Nothing.” The Japan Times, 9 Sept. 2022, www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2022/09/09/general/dream-job-companion/. Accessed 15 Feb. 2023.
Matsumoto, Kiyoshi. “MA — the Japanese Concept of Space and Time.” Medium, 24 Apr. 2020, medium.com/@kiyoshimatsumoto/ma-the-japanese-concept-of-space-and-time-3330c83ded4c.
Emma Narvaez