Family Romance, LLC
The Human Rental Agency
Yuichi Ishii
Father to 35 children. Husband to 600 women.
The story of a man who has spent his life playing someone else.
Children
Wives
Years of Service
Services
About
What Is the Human Rental Agency?
"Human Rental Agency" is the collective term for services that provide proxy human relationships — family, friends, romantic partners, colleagues, and more. Yuichi Ishii founded Family Romance Inc. and launched Japan's first full-scale family rental service.
Today, Family Romance offers over 100 types of services — father proxy, mother proxy, husband proxy, wife proxy, friend proxy, romantic partner proxy, wedding attendance, apology proxy, scolding proxy, grave-visiting proxy, and more — addressing every need of modern society.
With over 5,000 registered staff members, the service matches the ideal person based on age, gender, occupation, and appearance to meet each client's needs. Ishii himself continues to work in the field, having handled thousands of assignments personally.
Why Families Are Rented
Why Do People Rent Families?
"Not having a father puts you at a disadvantage in kindergarten interviews"
"I have no friends to invite to my wedding"
"Exhausted from caring for my parents, I just want someone to talk to"-- Common reasons for requests
The reasons for requests vary, but at their core lies the problem of "loneliness" in modern society. Japan is known as one of the world's loneliest nations. Nuclear families, aging populations, the collapse of local communities — relationships that were once taken for granted are now hard to come by.
Family Romance's clients are by no means "abnormal" people. They are ordinary people trying to adapt to changes in society. As Ishii says:
"Ideally, a service like this shouldn't need to exist. But as long as there are people who need it, I'll keep going."
-- Yuichi Ishii
Social Challenges in Modern Japan
Rise of Nuclear Families
Weakening family bonds as multi-generational households decline
Aging Population
Fewer family members to support each other
Community Breakdown
Fading neighborhood connections
Changing Work Culture
Long working hours making it hard to build relationships
Commitment
The Resolve of Yuichi Ishii
Active in Over 25 Families
Over 35 children believe Ishii is their real father
Ishii himself works in the field as a "human rental agent." As a rental father, he is active in over 25 families, with more than 35 children believing he is their real father. Some cases have continued for over 8 years.
"I started casually. But as the requests piled up, I realized the weight of it. Children innocently call me 'Daddy.' I must live up to that trust. The guilt of living a lie. And yet, the desire to make this child's life even a little better."
-- Yuichi Ishii's inner thoughts
As a rental husband, he has played the role of "husband" for over 600 women. He has been proposed to over 150 times but has declined every one.
"We must never create dependency. True service means supporting independence."
As a Rental Father
As a Rental Husband
Services
Our Services
Diverse proxy services that resolve relationship challenges
Rental Father
Supporting school events and daily life as a real father to the children. Some cases ongoing for 8 years.
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Rental Husband
Playing the partner role at weddings and family events, providing emotional support with genuine care.
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Inner Conflict
The inner voice of a man who has lived other people's lives for years. Where is the line between acting and being?
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Harvard Lecture
The future of family discussed at the world's most prestigious university. An innovative theory that earned the Glass Award.
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The World of the Human Rental Agency
Unraveling the journey from every angle
Profile
The upbringing and present life of the man who lives as a human rental agent. The essence of service spirit inherited from his grandfather.
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Founding Story
A story that began with a single phone call. The calling discovered by a man who tried over 100 side jobs.
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Philosophy
What is the authenticity that Family Romance pursues? From Freudian theory to proposals for modern society.
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Services
From father proxy to apology proxy. Over 100 types of proxy services addressing every need of modern society.
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Published Book
A book chronicling years of experience. Conflicts and insights from the field, and proposals for society.
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Harvard Lecture
The 2019 lecture at Harvard University and Glass Award. The world recognized the significance of Japan's proxy culture.
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Inner World
The inner conflict of living multiple lives. A story of identity wavering at the boundary between self and role.
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Rental Father
The real dad that 35 children believe in. The longest ongoing case of 8 years and the responsibility of watching them grow.
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Rental Husband
Days of playing the ideal husband for 600 women. The professional ethics of declining 150 marriage proposals.
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Social Issues
30,000 solitary deaths per year, 35% single-person households. The serious reality of modern Japan reflected through proxy services.
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International Perspective
The Atlantic, BBC, Cannes Film Festival. The shock of Japan's proxy culture that captivated 50 global media outlets.
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Blog
As a human rental agent and an actor. Voices from the field about what he feels and thinks each day.
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