56: Rent A Family

In this episode we will be discussing the Rent A Family business, why it exists and why it has been so popular in Japan for a number of decades. We also discuss the physical and psychological effects of isolation and loneliness and how dangerous it is. Would you rent a family member of spouse if it was a norm in society? We may be closer than you think..

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Content warning: This episode includes topics such as, suicide and other dark themes.  Some listeners may find these topics and stories upsetting . Listener discretion is advised, this is not a deep dive.

Source material:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-33362387
https://medium.com/kontinentalist/playing-house-the-rent-a-family-business-in-japan-c97ba91eeff4
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/30/japans-rent-a-family-industry
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/japanese-man-rent-followers-b1787128.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/japanese-man-shoji-morimoto-do-nothing-rent-a-man-chitchat-2022-1?op=1&r=US&IR=T
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-loneliness-bad-brain-body-what-to-do-2018-5?r=US&IR=T
https://japantoday.com/category/features/opinions/the-complicated-concept-of-suicide-in-japan