The true life adventures of Shoji Morimoto who launched a business in which he rents himself
out to do nothing in Japan. 'Distinctively Japanese musings on meaning and connection' -
Observer Need a rental person who does nothing? Shoji Morimoto provides a fascinating
service to the 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 tweet his Rental
Person service was born. - Have a deep secret you desperately need to reveal so deep that you
can't tell a friend or family member? - Have you spent a long time home alone and want to know
what it's like to have somebody with you at your apartment? - Or for someone to simply think of
you on a stressful day? Or wave to you as you leave the train station on a long journey?
Morimoto is dependable non-judgmental and committed to remaining a stranger throughout each
request and his encounters are revelatory 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.
