We Became Rental Girlfriends in Japan
When you hear “rental boyfriend,” you might picture a flawless date with polite conversation, thoughtful planning, and smooth romance. Well… this wasn’t quite that. Our challenge? Compete to give our dates the best boyfriend experience possible in Japan and earn the highest rating. Sounds simple, right? Let’s just say reality had other plans.
The Setup – Three Guys, Three Dates, One Goal
We each signed up for a rental boyfriend service in Japan. Think Yelp for boyfriends — complete with ratings, reviews, and client feedback. The goal: charm our dates, hit all the “love languages” (acts of service, gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, physical touch), and end with a glowing review. But right from the start, things went sideways. Some of us arrived early and waited. Others… needed “two more hours” to get ready. One date started with food negotiations and mild name-calling. Another kicked off in Harajuku where, unfortunately, most shops were closed.
Date #1 – Harajuku Hustle
My client, Annabelle, was half-Japanese, half-British — and hungry. Problem: I didn’t have a single food plan in mind. She made it clear: “As a rental boyfriend, you should plan these things.” Ouch. We wandered Cat Street, browsed clothes, and even swapped outfit picks for each other. Then came the pig café — easily the highlight. Imagine tiny, pushy pigs trying to sit in your lap and nibble on your shirt. Cute, but chaotic. Annabelle seemed to warm up after that. She complimented the gentlemanly touches — opening doors, pulling out chairs, mixing drinks. Still, I could tell my lack of planning cost me points.
Date #2 – The “Authentic” New York Experience
Another rental boyfriend decided his client was going to get a full-on “New York” treatment — unfiltered, loud, and unapologetic. He didn’t sugarcoat things, occasionally roasted his date, and wasn’t shy about calling out “red flags.” They toured shrines, joked about bad tattoos, argued over wasabi portions, and exchanged way-too-personal questions about weight and dating history. It wasn’t romantic… but it was definitely memorable.
Date #3 – Drinks, Dancing, and… Jealousy?
The third date started late but picked up quickly. There was shopping, playful teasing, and back-and-forth banter about height, weight, and past relationships. Midway, another girl tried to “poach” the date, which led to some chaotic switching, light jealousy, and even threats to cancel the rental mid-session. In the end, they stayed the course — and wrapped the evening with food, drinks, and playful roasting.
Ratings & Reflections
When it came time for scores, reality hit hard:
- Annabelle gave me a 4/10 (“He didn’t plan anything, but the pig café saved it”).
- Another client went 4/10 for lack of romance but admitted the day was “entertaining.”
- Some scored higher for friendliness and gentlemanly behavior, while others crashed to near 1s for too much attitude.
One thing became clear: being a rental boyfriend is harder than it sounds. You’re balancing entertainment, comfort, cultural differences, and personal chemistry — all under the pressure of a ticking clock and a paying client.
Takeaways – Would I Do It Again?
Absolutely… but next time:
- Plan an itinerary in advance.
- Learn a few key phrases in Japanese.
- Be adaptable — your client’s vibe will set the tone.
- And most importantly, read the room (pigs cafés: yes; interrogation about weight: probably not).
It wasn’t the perfect boyfriend experience, but it was real, messy, and hilariously human. And hey — where else do you get paid to hold hands, eat mochi, and dodge tiny pigs in Harajuku?
