Don't Have A Best Man?: Japan's Rent-A-Friend Business Can Help

You heard me right, kids.   According to USA Today, Ryuichi Ichinokawa of Japan started his rent-a-friend business nearly four years ago and based it on “spare(ing) clients’ blushes at social functions such as weddings and funerals.”  Seems useful enough in theory, but wouldn’t a blush be even bigger if everyone found out they were rented?  Talk about awwwkward.

According to Ichinokawa, however, in the three and half years he’s been working the scene, he has never been outed.  He is a self proclaimed master of faux best man speeches and can be all yours for a the low cost of $150… Wedding toasts and karaoke performances are extra.  (For real, people, I can’t make this stuff up.)

Now housing 30 agents, the SUPER desperate could not only rent a best man, but they could also throw in a maid of honor, crazy uncle, “oldest, dearest” friend and weird neighbor… don’t act like they’re not on your list already – hehe.   Ichinokawa lays claim that his business is very gratifying.  He’s providing a service for the otherwise un-serviceable, and after all the time consuming prep work is done, it’s Showtime.

Ahhh, yes, Showtime indeed, as Ichinokawa’s company is merely the tip of the iceberg.  There are ten other social agencies in Japan providing the same rent-a-friend services for all occasions.  And, while, I’m not sure I’ll be hiring any of them anytime soon, I do applaud their efforts and say “Bravo!” for braving what apparently, no one else could or would brave!

Leave a Comment September 21, 2009