A JAPANESE MAN MAKES $80,000 A YEAR BY RENTING HIMSELF OUT AS A FRIEND TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL LONELY.

Summary: Shoji Morimoto lost his office job in 2018. His boss said he had no initiative and did nothing useful at work. But later, Morimoto turned “doing nothing” into a successful job.

Now 41, Morimoto is known in Japan as the “do nothing” rental guy. People pay him just to be with them. He does only what they ask, nothing more — and never anything inappropriate.

Clients hire him for many simple reasons. He may wait at the finish line for a marathon runner, stay on a video call while someone cleans their room, or attend a concert in place of a friend who cannot go. Sometimes, he just sits quietly and keeps someone company.

Morimoto has faced hard situations, too. He has stood in long lines under the hot sun, waited for hours in freezing weather, gone to parties where he knew no one, and even stood alone on a stage in front of a big audience doing nothing. Even so, he says these experiences feel special because they happen only because of his job.

His longest task lasted 17 hours. He rode the same train line back and forth all day, making 13 full trips.

Many people also hire Morimoto when they are having a bad day. He listens but does not give advice. He keeps conversations very simple, mostly nodding and paying attention, without acting like a therapist.

Morimoto gets about 1,000 requests each year. In the past, he charged a fixed fee of 10,000 to 30,000 yen for a few hours and made around $80,000 in one year. Now, clients pay whatever amount they want. Morimoto says he is not focused on money — he just wants to enjoy life.

A CNBC reporter spent two hours with Morimoto at a pig café in Tokyo. The reporter felt more comfortable going with him instead of going alone, especially in a crowded place. Morimoto also helped by taking photos. They barely talked, which was fine. The reporter enjoyed the experience without feeling pressure to talk or explain being alone.

This shows why Morimoto’s service is popular. People can enjoy activities in public without feeling judged or forced to socialize.

In Japan, there are many similar rental services, including temporary girlfriends, boyfriends, friends, and even family members. Experts say these services fit modern Japanese life, where many people do not want serious relationships but still want casual company without responsibility.