This picture taken on May 23, 2016 shows Takanobu Nishimoto of "Ossan Rental" (Old Guy Rental) listening during an interview in Tokyo. - AFP
TOKYO: From lonely pensioners to Japanese schoolgirls with shattered dreams, Takanobu Nishimoto and his crew of middle-aged men will lend an ear to clients who would never dream of spilling their guts to a therapist or worse, their families.
Anyone in need of company can sign up to his online service to rent an “ossan” -- a man aged between 45 and 55 -- for 1,000 yen (RM38) an hour.
