How Shoji Morimoto Makes $80,000 a Year ‘Doing Nothing’

When Shoji Morimoto was fired from his office job in 2018, his boss criticized him for “not doing anything” and lacking initiative. Fast forward a few years, and Morimoto, now 41, has turned to do nothing into a career that’s both lucrative and unexpectedly fulfilling.

Known as Japan’s “rental do-nothing guy,” Morimoto’s job involves lending his presence to anyone in need of a company for just about anything. 

His clients hire him for all sorts of tasks, from waiting for a marathon runner at the finish line to sitting in on a video call while someone redecorates their room. In one memorable case, a woman rented him to attend a concert with her friend because she couldn’t make it.

The requests can be as bizarre as they are mundane, but no matter the task, Morimoto’s role remains the same: show up and do nothing—unless it involves sex, which is off the table.

“I’ve been in some objectively tough situations, like standing in line under the blazing sun, waiting for hours in cold, or attending parties full of strangers,” Morimoto told CNBC. “But I’ve learned to cherish those moments because they’re special. They only happen because of my job.”

Not your typical therapist, Morimoto’s role goes beyond simple companionship. His longest gig? A 17-hour marathon of riding the Yamanote train line in Tokyo, from one end to the other.

But he’s also been hired just to listen. Morimoto doesn’t give advice or try to solve anyone’s problems—he’s there to hear people out, offering only minimal conversation and, when necessary, a comforting silence.

Morimoto receives around 1,000 requests a year, letting clients decide how much to pay. He used to charge a flat rate of 10,000 to 30,000 yen (roughly $65 to $195) for a few hours of his time, earning about $80,000 in 2021, before switching to a “pay-as-you-wish” model.

“I charge what people feel is fair, and I’m curious to see if it’s sustainable,” Morimoto says. “But honestly, I’m not in it to make a living—I just want to enjoy life.”

For a taste of his work, CNBC tagged along with Morimoto for a couple of hours at a piglet cafe in Tokyo, where customers sip drinks and cuddle with adorable piglets. 

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I had planned to go alone, but seeing the packed cafe made me feel a sense of relief at having Morimoto’s company. The best part? I didn’t have to talk to anyone—I could just focus on the pigs, with Morimoto snapping photos for me when needed.

It hit me then: Morimoto’s real charm is in offering the kind of company that lets you enjoy something in public without feeling the pressure to socialize. No awkwardness, no forced chit-chat—just the simple comfort of having someone there.

Morimoto himself notes that some of his clients aren’t lonely at all—they’re just socially awkward. “In Japan, people can be too shy or uncomfortable to ask for companionship directly. Paying for it is easier,” he says.

One of his more unusual requests involved a woman who hired him to sit in a corner of a cafe while she served divorce papers to her husband—without him noticing her presence.

Morimoto’s calm, supportive presence gave her the strength to go through with it, providing a sense of emotional security in a tough moment.

For him, these quirky jobs aren’t just about the money. He loves the variety of experiences and those little moments of connection.

“Every offer, every meeting, every conversation—it all makes me happy,” he says. “There’s nothing else I truly want to do.”

In a world where people are often chasing more, Morimoto has found contentment in less—sometimes, in doing nothing at all. And in a society that can be isolating, there’s a quiet power in just being there.