The Ideal Husband for
600 Women
The reason he turned down 150 proposals.
Navigating the boundary between professional ethics and emotion.
What Is a Rental Husband?
"I never imagined how inconvenient it would be not to have a husband."
Divorced women, widowed women, unmarried women — they are expected to have a "husband" in various situations. At family gatherings: "Where's your husband?" At company events: "Bring your husband along."
Japanese society still considers "married couples together" the norm. Being alone demands explanation. Yuichi Ishii has long played the "husband" for such women — as the ideal husband for over 600 women.
"Just because a woman doesn't have a husband, she faces discomfort in so many situations. I want to be a shield that protects women from those stares."
— Yuichi IshiiRental Husband Track Record
Women's "Husband"
Continuing to play the ideal husband
Proposals
All declined out of professional ethics
Years of Service
Extensive experience and track record
600 "Wives"
From Their 20s to 50s
Each with different circumstances and situations
Over 600 women have used Ishii as their rental husband. From their 20s to 50s. Career women to homemakers. Urban to rural. Their circumstances are diverse.
Female CEO, 30s
She needed to bring a "husband" to business dinners. "Being single means being underestimated" — that was her reality. In the business world, being married can build trust.
Single Mother, 40s
She asked for a "father" to attend her son's school events. She told her son "Dad is busy with work," but needed a "father" for class observations and parent-teacher meetings.
Office Worker, 30s
She asked for a "husband" to attend a relative's wedding. She was exhausted by the pressure from relatives: "Don't you have anyone special?" "You should get married soon."
Homemaker, 50s
She asked for a "husband" to attend her son's wedding. She had divorced her real husband 10 years ago but never told her son. She wanted "both parents together" for her son's special day.
"When I listen to clients, they all have their own reasons. No one rents a husband by choice. They've been pushed to the edge, and only then do they reach out. I want to respond to that courage with everything I have."
— Yuichi Ishii150 Proposals
"Mr. Ishii, will you become my real husband?"
Over 150 proposals, every single one declined
Yuichi Ishii has received over 150 proposals from clients. The first time he was proposed to, he was shocked. He thought he was merely "acting." But for the client, the "ideal husband" was right in front of her.
Ishii has declined every single proposal. Why?
Professional Ethics
"If I married a client, it would violate professional ethics. It would be like a doctor entering a romantic relationship with a patient. It would be a form of exploitation that abuses the trust relationship."
Gap with Reality
"I play the 'ideal husband' for the client. But the real me is different. Living together every day, she might be disillusioned. What the client loves is 'rental husband Yuichi Ishii,' not the 'real Yuichi Ishii.'"
Between Emotion and Ethics
150 rejections, 150 different kinds of pain
The Pain of Rejection
"Every time I decline a proposal, my heart aches. But if I accept, I can't continue this work. For the client's sake and for mine, I must draw the line."
The Danger of Dependency
Greatest Concern
Some women go into debt to continue using the service. Others cut their living expenses to make requests every month.
What Ishii is most vigilant about is client "dependency." He believes the human rental service should be a "bridge" — temporary support to help build real human relationships. Not something to continue forever.
When dependency begins, clients stop trying to build real relationships. They start thinking, "I only need Ishii." That is detrimental to the client's life.
Ishii's Approach
The Reality of Debt
Sacrificing one's livelihood
True Kindness
"Please don't rely on me too much. I can't become your real husband. I want you to find a real partner."
It may seem cold. But enabling dependency is not kindness. True kindness is pushing someone toward independence.
Emotional Boundaries
The Hardest Part
A heart torn between acting and real emotion
The hardest part of being a rental husband is controlling emotions. As Ishii spends time with clients, his own feelings sometimes stir. "I feel at ease with this person." "Seeing her smile makes me happy." — such feelings can emerge.
When Feelings Emerge
The Absolute Rule
"But I must never let that show."
The moment Ishii shows private emotion, the client becomes confused. "Is this work? Or is it real?" — that ambiguity hurts the client.
Inner Conflict
Days of suppressing emotion
Professional Resolve
"My feelings stay locked inside me. What I show the client is only the husband she wants to see."
This self-restraint, Ishii says, is the most draining part of the job.
"Honestly, I'm human too. I sometimes feel attracted to clients. But if I acted on those feelings, I would no longer be a professional. To protect the client, I suppress my own emotions."— Yuichi Ishii's confession
The Special Work of Weddings
The Most Special Day of a Lifetime
Standing as the groom, exchanging rings, sharing the vow's kiss
Among all rental husband assignments, weddings are the most nerve-wracking. Ishii has played the "groom" many times. Standing beside the bride, exchanging rings, sharing the vow's kiss. Acting as "husband and wife" in front of all the guests.
Roles at the Wedding
The All-Rental Wedding
At one wedding, everyone except the bride and groom was a Family Romance staff member.
Parents, siblings, friends, bosses — over 50 staff members created an entire "wedding."
Mixed Feelings
"At that moment, I had mixed feelings."
The bride wore a genuinely happy expression. She cried and said, "This is the happiest day of my life." But everyone around her was an "actor."
Why He Continues
"I sometimes wonder if this is right. But the bride truly dreamed of this day. If we could help make that dream come true, our work has meaning."
"A wedding is a special day for anyone. Even without real family, there's no need to give up that special day. We help make that dream a reality."
The Moment of Farewell
Every Assignment Has an End
When the event ends, Ishii is no longer the "husband"
Every assignment has an end. When the event is over, Ishii is no longer the "husband." He leaves the client and heads to the next assignment.
"The moment of farewell is the hardest part."
Especially after long-term assignments, emotions linger. Someone he met many times, talked with many times, laughed with many times. And now, they may never meet again.
Words from Clients
"Will you come back again?"
"Can I contact you anytime?"
"Do we really never meet again?"
The Hardest Moment
Leaving with emotions still lingering
No Ambiguity
Ishii never gives ambiguous answers.
"Our relationship ends here. But I hope you'll use this experience going forward. I am grateful to have shared a part of my life with you."
Gratitude
"When parting with a client, I always say 'Thank you.' The gratitude is real. I am grateful to have shared a part of my life with that person."
The Significance of Rental Husbands
"Isn't renting a husband kind of empty?"
Ishii's answer to a frequently asked question
"Whether it feels empty depends on the client. But most of the clients I've seen felt relief rather than emptiness."
Moments of Relief
No longer being asked "Where's your husband?" at family gatherings
No longer having to attend company events alone
No longer feeling awkward at their child's school events
That relief is real.
The Value of Simulated Experience
Through time spent with Ishii, clients experience what a "married" relationship feels like.
"I feel at ease with someone like this"
"I enjoy conversations like these"
It helps them clarify what kind of partner they truly want.
The Next Step
From temporary shelter to the future
A Stepping Stone
"If the time spent with me becomes a catalyst for taking the next step, that is enough."
A Temporary Shelter
"A rental husband is not a permanent solution. It's a temporary shelter. But because there is a shelter, people can move forward. Heal their wounds, gather strength, and go back out into the world. I want to be that shelter."
"A wedding is life's most precious moment. It is my joy to help create that happiness."Yuichi Ishii - Human Rental Agency
Stories of Husband Proxy
600 women, 150 proposals. Between emotion and professional ethics.
600 Wives
Playing the "husband" for over 600 women, each with different circumstances, across various occasions.
150 Proposals
150 genuine proposals from clients, all declined. The boundary between professional ethics and emotion.
Four Reasons
Meeting parents, work events, social appearances, loneliness. The modern issues behind renting a husband.
Emotional Boundaries
A heart torn between acting and real emotion. The danger when a client falls in love for real.
Debt Reality
People who go into debt to use the service. Strict boundaries to prevent dependency.
All-Rental Wedding
A wedding where everyone except the bride and groom was a Family Romance staff member. The reality of a fully proxy wedding.
Learn More
Love and farewell in the field of husband proxy.
Discover the truth behind 150 proposals in his published works.