Revealed: Japan’s loneliness epidemic has led to the rise in popularity of websites offering fake girlfriends and boyfriends that can be RENTED

In Japan, many people are overworked or have difficulty connecting socially with others.

In fact, there is a loneliness epidemic there, with 1.5 million people classified as social loners, according to a study. government survey.

As a result, websites that offer a solution for people who have difficulty forming intimate relationships have increased in popularity: fake girlfriends and boyfriends for hire.

There is one website that offers girlfriends for rent tokyo.rent-kano.net.

It states ‘Nagi‘ available for rental from 12,000 yen (£64/$80) for two hours. She says in her biography that on her days off she “makes bread and sweets and watches anime” and that she is “calm.”

YouTuber Harry Jaggard tried out the service and paid $400 (£321) for ‘rental and activities’ with ‘Eri‘, who explains in her biography that she is ‘shallow’ and that ‘most of her conversations erupt in laughter’.

She adds that she enjoys cafe tours, shopping and alcohol.

Jaggard said after the date, “It was the most ridiculous, expensive date I’ve ever been on, but we enjoyed it and it’s still cheaper than having a real girlfriend.”

Women looking for a male companion, meanwhile, could hire thirty-four year olds Takahiro Satonaka through rentalkareshi.com from 7,000 yen (£37/$46) per hour.

Meanwhile, women looking for a male companion could hire thirty-four-year-old Takahiro Satonaka (far left) from Rentalkareshi.com

The sites make it clear that they are selling companionship – and strict rules apply to every date.

For example, contact is not via personal mobile phones, but via the website.

And the do’s and don’ts must be adhered to.

For example, the aforementioned Eri makes it clear in her biography that holding hands is only ‘OK’ on a second date, together with swimming.

Jaggard hit it off so well that she agreed to a second date – for free.