I make $80K as a ‘do-nothing’ friend for rent to lonely people: ‘I do it for pay, not pals’

A Japanese resident makes $80,000 a year renting himself out to friendless people.Giulio_Fornasar – stock.adobe.com

His knack for doing nothing is doing something to end loneliness.

To combat the “alone virus,” a public health crisis wreaking havoc on the mental well-being of friendless folks worldwide, creatives in the Big Apple and beyond are dreaming up unique ways to meet mates.

Japan-based Shoji Morimoto, for one, is just in the business of buddy-making for the money.

He charges his more than 1,000 clients — locals as well as foreigners from the US — around $100 for only two to three hours of his “awkward” companionship. And the homie-for-hire’s services rarely include actual one-on-one interactions or even conversation.

Instead, Morimoto’s laidback work is simply rooted in quelling the prevalence of Hikikomori syndrome —an extreme form of social withdrawal due to chronic loneliness — in Asia.

Morimoto charges temporary friends about $100 for a few hours of his time.REUTERS

Dubbed a “global phenomenon” by clinical psychology researchers from the Netherlands in a 2023 study, hikikomori, or “extreme social withdrawal” (ESW), can severely stunt a person’s mental, social and developmental growth.

The findings support a July 2023 report from Japan’s Kyushu University, which found that loneliness actually shrinks a victim’s brain and prompts a series of physical health issues.

“Social isolation has been associated with … premature mortality, increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, increased reporting of depressive symptoms, as well as increased dementia risk,” experts said in a statement.

In chipping away at isolation, by-the-hour buddy Morimoto vows to hang with his renters through thick and thin — no matter how kooky they choose to behave.

Morimoto is down to “do nothing” with customers, but often says “no” to attending pop concerts.REUTERS

In his 2023 memoir “Rental Person Who Does Nothing,” Morimoto recalled being hired to watch a woman snoop through her husband’s secret online dating profiles.

“She screamed (like in her DM) every 10 minutes or so,” wrote Morimoto. “At one stage, she made a mistake with an app, clicking ‘Like’ for a man she wanted to skip through.”

“She stared up at the ceiling and looked very upset.”

And in a recent chat with 33-year-old travel YouTuber Drew Binsky, Morimoto giggled about once being hired to watch a woman bizarrely eat ripped shreds of paper like rice.

“It [was] so funny,” he said.

However, for 40-year-old rent-a-friend Morimoto, the friendships — no matter how wild they may be — will always remain temporary, as he draws the line at actually befriending any of his customers.

“[I] will never be friends with people who [hire me],” Morimoto, who doesn’t speak English, told Binsky. Using a translator, the pal-for-pay said he makes $80,000 a year as Tokyo’s “do nothing guy,” with no strings ever attached.

“Every time, they pay,” said Morimoto, a married father who began renting himself to hermits in 2018.

Scientists have found that loneliness can result in several physically damaging health issues.Antonioguillem – stock.adobe.com

Morimoto isn’t the only entrepreneur out there looking to solve the battle against loneliness.

West Villager Isabella Epstein, 25, is doing her part the stop the madness.

The genius Gen Z makes dinner reservations at swank NYC hotspots and invites random gals online to join her for a bite.

And self-proclaimed “nerds” Ty and Felecia Freely of Brooklyn host “Lectures on Tap” nights at bars, welcoming fellow geeks to enjoy some spirits and an educational speech helmed by college professors.

At the top of 2024, Morimoto also launched a side business called “People who don’t rent anything” for singles who need a plus-one for a specific task, such as shopping or video gaming.

Rather than paying rental fees, patrons seeking those services simply cover his travel and food expenses.