When Your Job Is Simply Showing Up
Meet Shoji Morimoto, Tokyo’s “professional nobody.” 38 years old, lanky, and not exactly a Hollywood star, Shoji charges 10,000 ¥ ($99.83) an hour to be a friend, a confidant, or just a human “presence” you can lean on. The job? “Just be there and do nothing in particular,” he explains to Reuters.
How It All Started
- He began his career on Twitter, where he amasses nearly 250,000 followers who then turn into clients.
- Over the last four years, he’s completed about 4,000 sessions—many of which were repeat bookings.
- One fan has even hired him a whopping 270 times!
Typical “Work” Scenes
— In a city park, a client wanted to enjoy a see‑saw while Shoji faithfully sat beside him.
— On a bustling train, a stranger waved goodbye to a friend. Shoji, positioned just outside the window, offered a simple smile and a polite “good luck.”
What Shoji Won’t Do
- He’s turned down odd requests like moving a fridge or traveling to Cambodia for a client’s entertainment.
- He refuses any sexual propositions—his skills are strictly for platonic companionship.
- He won’t pretend to be a professional therapist, a lawyer, or a magician, even if asked.
Tea Time With a Twist
Last week, Shoji met Aruna Chida, a 27‑year‑old data analyst, very casually seated across from him in a sari. Over tea and some cake, they shared a sparse, yet memorable conversation. It goes to show: it’s not about filling the silence with words; it’s about the comfort of being present.
So next time you need a break, feel lonely, or simply want to remember that someone is out there, Shoji’s ready to be the human “witness” of your day—and you can pay him for that priceless comfort.
<img alt="" data-caption="Shoji Morimoto who charges 10,000 yen ($71.30) an hour to accompany clients and simply exist as a companion, uses a mobile phone while meeting his client Aruna Chida at a cafe in Tokyo, Japan August 31, 2022.
PHOTO: Reuters” data-entity-type=”file” data-entity-uuid=”ee3e562e-3ae9-4801-8448-0038e81384e1″ src=”/sites/default/files/inline-images/PSB4TN5HQBNI5GKSFMKMLKPOXE.jpeg”/>
When “Doing Nothing” Turns Into a Career – A Strange Tale from Tokyo
Chida’s Cultural Dilemma
Chida was itching to flaunt her new Indian outfit in public, but she’d always feared that her friends would cringe at the bold look. “I walk around feeling like I have to entertain everyone,” she told us, “but with my friend Morimoto I can just chill without the chatter.”
From Publishing to the Art of Lazing
Morimoto’s path to this unusual gig started in a corporate publishing office where he was called out for “doing nothing.” Instead of just being an employee with a quiet side, he thought, “What if I could offer this knack for idle time as a service?” Thus, the companionship business was born.
The New Boss’s Life
- It’s now his sole hustle—sustaining his wife and little one.
- Although he won’t disclose exact earnings, he meets one or two clients daily (pre‑pandemic: three or four).
- He spent a seemingly ordinary Wednesday in Tokyo doing literally nothing—yet that “nothing” sparked a deeper societal critique.
Rethinking Productivity
Morimoto mused, “People often believe a bit of ‘doing nothing’ has value because it’s useful to others, but in truth it’s perfectly fine to simply not do anything at all. You don’t need to be useful in a particular way.”
So whether it’s a bold Indian dress or a quiet companionship session, Miss Chida and Mr. Morimoto show us that comfort and authenticity can sometimes be more valuable than tradition and hustle.
