{"product_id":"rental-person-who-does-nothing-shoji-morimoto-9781335017536","title":"Rental Person Who Does Nothing: A Memoir","description":"\u003cstrong\u003e***Now an International Bestseller!***\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Distinctively Japanese musings on meaning and connection.\"--\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObserver\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eI'm starting a service... available for any situation in which all you want is a person to be there. Maybe there's a restaurant you want to go to, but you feel awkward going on your own.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eMaybe a game you want to play, but you're one person short.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eOr perhaps you'd like someone to keep a space in the park for your cherry blossom viewing party...\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShoji Morimoto was constantly being told by his boss, \"It makes no difference whether you're here or not,\" and that his presence contributed nothing to the company. Morimoto began to wonder whether a person who \"does nothing\" could still have actual value and a place in the world. Perhaps he could turn \"doing nothing\" into a service? With one tweet, Rental Person was born.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRental Person provides a fascinating service to the lonely and socially anxious. This book details thousands of his true-life adventures: \u003cbr\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eAccompanying a divorcee to her favorite restaurant\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eWaving goodbye to a client from the train platform\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eSitting in the courtroom during a client's trial\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eSupporting a client during a difficult surgery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRental Person is dependable, nonjudgmental and committed to remaining a stranger, and the curious encounters he shares are revelatory about both Japanese society and human psychology.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eRental Person Who Does Nothing\u003c\/em\u003e, 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Shoji Morimoto\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1335017534\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781335017536\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Hanover Square Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/09\/2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 192\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.40h x 5.40w x 1.00d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/15\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e 11\/13\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/01\/2023 pg. 100\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/01\/2023 pg. 95\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBookPage\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/01\/2024\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/i\u003e 01\/26\/2024","brand":"Shoji Morimoto","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44254696407295,"sku":"9781335017536","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_b14ef906-3a63-4ddc-8a93-5972abd69f2e.jpg?v=1694613859","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/rental-person-who-does-nothing-shoji-morimoto-9781335017536","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}