Renting a Friend, Lover, and Audience : Companionship Service for Acting “Happy” on Social Media
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A companionship service to act like “Riaju” (a combination of the words “riaru” (real) and “juujitsu” (fulfilling), meaning someone with a good life grounded in reality), named “Riaju Daikou” (Riaju agency) has launched in Japan which is causing a lot of arguments.
The purpose of the service is to take pictures of you being with someone and upload them on social media to show off. Users can rent companions as friends, lover, or audience.
Screenshot from Riaju Daikou
When do you use the service? The agent is suggesting some examples on their website ; making your birthday party looks happier with a lot of substitute friends, making your lonely solo travel looks happier with a substitute buddy, or making you look happier with a substitute lover.
It costs 8,000 yen (up to 2 hours) to rent a person. You can choose the person’s sex, age, and fashion, as well as detailed situations if you have plans.
Do you think you can be really happy with the service? Seeing happy people on social media when you are unhappy sometimes make you depress a bit, however, can the service fill your inner emptiness? It seems that the birth of the service suggests that people are suffering from acting another personality on internet, no matter they welcome this service or not.
Related link
Riaju Daikou website : http://family-romance.com/service/realappeal.html
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Ayaya
Been working in girls’ fashion magazines for a long time and am now the chief editor of Tokyo Girls’ Update. I have more expertise in Japanese teen fashion than anyone else (probably)! I’m a huge fan of the Revolutionary Girl Utena and Bakemonogatari animes.
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