Rental Person Who Does Nothing: A Memoir

Shoji Morimoto offers a unique service where he rents himself out as a person who does nothing for people who are lonely, socially anxious, or need someone to talk to. His encounters are revealing about Japanese society and human psychology, and he reflects on how we search for meaningful connection and purpose in life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 06 July 2023
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Shoji Morimoto offers a unique service to those who are lonely and socially anxious. After an old boss told him that he contributed nothing and that it made no difference whether he showed up to work or not, he wondered if a person who 'does nothing could still have a place in the world. With a single tweet, his Rental Person service was born.

Are you holding a deep secret that you cannot share with a friend or family member? Have you spent long periods alone at home and are curious about what it would be like to have someone with you in your apartment? Or perhaps you simply need someone to think of you on a stressful day, wave to you as you leave the train station on a long journey, or simply be there for you?

Morimoto is dependable, non-judgmental, and committed to remaining a stranger throughout each request. His encounters are revealing about both Japanese society and human psychology.

In Rental Person Who Does Nothing, Morimoto chronicles his extraordinary experiences in his unique line of work and reflects on how we consider relationships, jobs, and family in our search for meaningful connection and purpose in life.

Weight: 274g
Dimension: 142 x 223 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781035012800