Rental person who does nothing : a memoir / Shoji Morimoto ; translated by Don Knotting.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Morimoto, Shoji, author.

Contributor:

Knotting, Don, translator.

Rosengarten Family Fund.

Standardized Title:

"Rentaru nanmo shinai hito" to iu sābisu wo hajimemasu. English

Language:

English

Japanese

Subjects (All):

Morimoto, Shoji.

Interpersonal relations--Japan.

Interpersonal relations.

Social service--Japan.

Social service.

Social psychology--Japan.

Social psychology.

Japan--Social life and customs.

Japan.

Social psychology--Japan--21st century.

Japan--Social life and customs--21st century.

Genre:

autobiographies (literary works)

Anecdotes.

Autobiographies.

Physical Description:

186 pages : illustrations ; 19 cm

Place of Publication:

Toronto, Ontario : Hanover Square Press, 2024.

Language Note:

In English, translated from the Japanese.

Summary:

"Shoji Morimoto was constantly being told that he was a 'do-nothing' because he lacked initiative. Dispirited and unemployed, it occurred to him that if he was so good at doing nothing, perhaps he could turn it into a business. And with one tweet, he began his business of renting himself out to do nothing. Morimoto, aka Rental Person, provides a fascinating service to the lonely and socially anxious. Sitting with a client undergoing surgery, accompanying a newly-divorced client to her favorite restaurant, visiting the site of a client's suicide attempt are just a few of his thousands of true life adventures. He is dependable, non-judgmental and committed to remaining a stranger and the curious encounters he shares 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"--Publisher's description.

Contents:

Foreword

Doing nothing

Showing no individuality

A rental person day

Not getting too close

Not being tied down by money

Not resisting AI

Instead of an afterword.

Notes:

"Originally published in Japan as 'Rental nanmo shinai hito' to iu service wo hajimemasu by Kawade Shobo Shinsha Ltd. Publishers" --Title page verso.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Rosengarten Family Fund.

ISBN:

9781335017536

1335017534

OCLC:

1402810620

Publisher Number:

99996084000