lifestyle

Rent-a-boyfriend dispatch service: Because Japanese women get lonely too

42 Comments
By Steven Simonitch

Japan provides its lonely men with plenty of ways to find sweet respite from the emptiness and isolation of everyday life—provided you have the cash. And we’re not just talking about prostitution: you can rent a girlfriend at Moe Date for day of “simulate romance” or find a cuddle partner at Soine-ya to help you rest easy at night.

But what about the ladies? Women get lonely too, so it seems unfair that such services would only be available to men.

Believe it or not, even before either of the above establishments were in business, there was Soine-ya Prime, a dispatch service where women can hire a handsome young man to lay with her in bed for a night.

While unrelated to the male-oriented Soine-ya in Akihabara — which, by the way, has been doing so well that they’ve recently opened up a second shop in Shinjuku — Soine-ya Prime also believes that there are just some nights when we crave the warmth of another human beside us to the point that we’d be willing to pay a complete stranger to do it.

Soine-ya Prime opened shop in 2011 and seems to be inspired by Shimshima, a television drama that aired the same year about a woman who has trouble sleeping after coming out of a divorce. The woman finds that just laying alongside a man at night enables her to sleep peacefully and she starts a "soine-ya" (“sleep together shop”) business that dispatches young men to sleep with lonely women.

Soine-ya Prime acknowledges its roots with a link to the Shimshima website at the bottom of their homepage and asserts that, like the business in the drama, it does not offer any sexual services to clients.

So what can you do with the “cast”, as they call their male employees. According to the site, you can:

・Sleep in his arms ・Go out for a date (all costs must be borne by the client) ・Have him clean for you (Simple cleaning tasks like vacuuming, etc., so long as it’s nothing discomforting) ・Eat together at a restaurant (all costs must be borne by the client) ・Have him cook for you (ingredients must be prepared by the client)

And here’s what clients are forbidden from doing:

・Touching his genitals or reaching under his clothes ・Taking a shower or bath together ・Kissing or other intimate contact not specified in the service outline ・Anything that would sexually arouse him ・Contacting him in private without the permission of Soine-ya Prime ・Hidden photography, wiretapping, etc.

They also add that they do not accept clients who use narcotics, have a dirty house, or are scouting for other establishments.

Pricing for the “Standard Plan”, which covers all of the above services, starts at 30,000 yen for 7 hours. For a full 8 hours of rest you’re looking at 33,000 yen, and keeping your man for the maximum of 12 hours will put out 48,000 yen. All sleeping must be done either at the client’s house or a hotel.

There is also a “Date Plan”, which includes a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort for 70,000 yen (2 tickets included). There is also the “Premium Date Course”, where the client can specify an activity she would like to do, such as going to the beach or watching the sun set, and Soine-ya Prime will plan and prepare a dream date itinerary for a fee starting at 50,000 yen.

In either case, your rent-a-boyfriend will come and pick you up by car at either your home or a prearranged meeting place. For all plans, it costs an extra 2000 yen to pick out which “cast member” you want to spend the night with.

Source: Soineya Prime

Read more stories on RocketNews24. -- http://en.rocketnews24.com/2012/11/16/new-japanese-rent-a-girlfriend-service-offers-simulated-romance-and-probably-a-little-more/ -- Housewives: Why Carefully Managing Your Husband’s Money Leads To A Happier Home -- Rejoice, Fashion-Challenged Men! Now You Can Have a Hottie Stylist Dress You

© RocketNews24

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42 Comments
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At last, I've found my calling. Where do I sign up?

9 ( +9 / -1 )

I'm just a gigolo, and everywhere I go, people know the cards I'm playin'...

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Nothing beats sleeping with my cat! When I was single, she used to sleep in my bed, and she is really warm and cuddly.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

If a guy is forced to go to Tokyo Disneyland with some obasan he doesn't know, I hope he gets a premium or at least the bulk of that 70,000 yen.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

They must have a category for 'foreign' cast members. If i was single, I would do that. 7 hours is 2 more hours than i normally get to sleep, and i suspect that if the girl wants more (and is reasonably attractive) then that would be an added bonus.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Now I know what I can do for a job! My visa allows this too!!! Wooot.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The rules are quaint but surely any guy doing this job is likely to want these things to be done to him (unles the client is gross).

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Wao any employment for me?? ;)) I am out of job...

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

All you guys wanting to sign up for this should check the fine print. It would be about as exciting as watching paint dry. Would you really want to be paid to go to some lonely chick's house and clean it for her? Really? I guess there must be some fellas out there pretty desperate for a 'non-touch' date.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

So pretty much the same service that women are charging men for at the girlfriend cafe? Christ, this country is pathetic at times.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Girls of Tokyo; I am SINGLE & available: zero 4 six for zero 8 one seven four 9 Call me please.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Good| Bad

SasorizaDec. 05, 2012 - 08:53AM JST

Nothing beats sleeping with my cat! When I was single, she used to sleep in my bed, and she is really warm and cuddly.

Cats have fleas. You want fleas in your bed?

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

hmmm.... no comment. -_-

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Rent a boyfriend, rent a girlfriend, cuddle cafes, my oh my ! What is JPN (the world, for that matter) coming to?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Girls of Tokyo; I am SINGLE & available: zero 4 six for zero 8 one seven four 9 Call me please.

You bad boy, lol

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

after reading through this article, i would have no problems with being a rent a boyfriend haha. the pay is good, and your not obligated to do things you wouldn't want to do.. how easy can it get?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Disturbing and dysfunctional.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Need to practice my lines... "Obasan wa totemo utsukushiidesu." "Obasan wa totemo utsukushiidesu." (repeat every time she says something to you)

OK, I'm ready! Where do I sign up? :-)

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

So pretty much the same service that women are charging men for at the girlfriend cafe? Christ, this country is pathetic at times.

Exactly.

They should provide bigger better service, or reduce the price.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Everything is broken down into a plain economic exchange-no wonder the birthdate is falling here....

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

what a load of cack, I will keep all these lonely ladies company for free and throw in these extras if they please;

・Touch my genitals or reach under my clothes ・Take a shower or bath together ・Kissing or other intimate contact is OK ・Anything that would sexually arouse me is OK ・Contact me in private ・But I pass on hidden photography, wiretapping, etc.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Strolling around with a hired boyfriend in a plastic theme park built on garbage. Now that's what I call romance.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

JessebaybayDec. 05, 2012 - 07:12PM JST after reading through this article, i would have no problems with being a rent a boyfriend haha. the pay is good, and your not obligated to do things you wouldn't want to do.. how easy can it get?

I guess you don't mind being with the 65 years old grandma with dentures and sagging problems and cows body odor everywhere. How easy can it get.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

In all serious, I think what this country REALLY needs is a service to teach young men and women how to be a good girlfriend/boyfriend. How to take people out on dates, how to treat them afterwards, etc.

They have a few dating services going on, but it's my guess that most people leave dissatisfied. Part of that is they have unrealistic expectations, but fail to even look at themselves to see that they are partly to blame.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

i see a lot of sexual assault charges going on here....but none the less way to go japan for promoting dating! xD

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Two weeks later iam moving to japan permanently and iam looking for a job so how can I apply for this job :))))

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

this is just wrong. you dont need any service to find a boyfriend or girlfriend. insted of that, they should teach the young people how to behave, be gentleman or lady to girsl/boys, how to attract them, what girls and boys like, how to treat them after they get ones.... etc the most bad thing is this kind of service could lead to sexual assault.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

At last, I've found my calling. Where do I sign up?

Here is who your clients will be: other men, and very old women....good luck with your new career.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The rules are quaint but surely any guy doing this job is likely to want these things to be done to him (unles the client is gross). How sexist. There are plenty of men who don't want to be touched inappropriately by someone they don't know, regardless of how "gross" or not the other person is. Just because you are not one of them does not mean that we can all be painted with the same brush. Thanks.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I do it for free already and no rules of course.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Wait. You want to sleep in a guys arms all night without sexually arousing him.... I'll believe that when North Korea's rocket program gets 6 feet off the ground

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This is the kind of arrangement I already have with my wife, and I pay her for the pleasure!!!!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

"clients are forbidden from... touching his genitals"

Oh well.

"a trip to Tokyo Disney Resort for 70,000 yen"

Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I know boys make silly comments about this but the real subject is pain. A man understands this kind of emotional pain a boy just pokes fun at it. A little compassion couldn't hurt.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Hilarious 'wacky Japan' article!

They also add that they do not accept clients who use narcotics, have a dirty house, or are scouting for other establishments.

Oh well, that cancels me out then.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

I don't care about the business side of this, nor do I judge anyone for partaking in anything related. Yet, the acceptance of these as solutions to loneliness is temporary.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Japanese guys: Go to her. Say, "Hi, how are you?" Then listen.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I think this would be great to do. You're doing someone a great service and there's no pressure since it's sex free. I don't know about the rest of ya'll weirdos but I can with reasonable ease sleep with a woman and not be aroused.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

reality is mostly sad i find japanese women to be very sexy. i think that japanese women should just open up a little & find all kinds of happiness.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

well, is it means love for sale? i am wondering how will this particular couple introduce themselves if they come across their friends,, hey this is my girlfriend till evening,, oh you mean rented ? at the end of the date, they will start walking in the opposite direction like a stranger.

human emotions should be respected it should not be artificial.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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