You can 'rent a grandma' in Japan for life advice, including breaking up with your boyfriend

They say Japan is way ahead of the world, and it's true not just in technology, but also in things we hardly assume are possible. When the country saw its senior citizens, especially elderly women, struggle to find suitable jobs, a company came up with "OK Obaachan" (translated as OK, Granny) to create employment opportunities. According to My Modern Met, Ok Obaachan, run by Client Partners, allows people to basically "rent" a granny for an hourly fee.

Built with an all-women team of a hundred ladies (between 60 and 94 years old), the OK Obaachan lets people rent a granny for several reasons, including babysitting, helping with the household chores, sharing a hearty conversation, or even helping with breaking up with your boyfriend. "There are many people who want to contribute to society even as they get older, and in fact, the experience and abilities of older people are of great use to society," the company shared. But how do people know whom to rent from? Well, the OK Obaachan site mentions things their grannies have done in the past or are capable of doing. In fact, the outlet claims that someone had rented a grandmother because they didn't have enough relatives at their wedding. 

Notably, these grannies charge ¥3,300 ($22.48) per hour for their services. They also charge an extra transportation fee depending on the location. The company is clear that the prices are non-negotiable and that their hourly fee is fixed and can't be lowered. Now, you may ask if there are any specific requirements to join Ok Obaachan; well, the company looks for candidates who are kind, committed, hardworking, and most importantly, empathetic. Moreover, they said, they prefer grandmothers who are open-minded and can deal with things that are often looked down upon by Japanese society. 

"The merit of age is the ability to remain unfazed by small things. Their consideration for those who need it most, and while they may lack the physical strength and agility of their younger counterparts, their housework and child-rearing skills honed over years of being a housewife, their communication skills honed through relationships with neighbors and relatives, their rich life experience having endured the good and the bad, and their friendly, warm presence are all irreplaceable strengths," Client Partners said. While the company has gone viral on social media, are people happy with Japan's idea of renting grandmothers? When an anonymous user who goes by u/purple-weakness1414 on Reddit shared a post about it, the response was overwhelming.

For instance, u/unfamiliarplaces commented, "My nanna was my best friend; she raised me, she loved me more than humanly possible, and she was my best friend and greatest comfort. When she passed, I was so stricken with grief that I have no memory of the first six months after, and developed anorexia. Having said all that, if I could pay an elderly lady to make me tea and comfort me, I would do it immediately. Some of us just need old ladies to make us feel loved."

As rightly pointed out by this user, this Japanese initiative helps not just those who rent grandmothers on an hourly basis but also the elderly women, by providing them with employment and helping them to battle their loneliness. Talking to young adults or children can expose these grandmothers to new perspectives, ideas, changing cultural values, etc. In fact, according to the National Library of Medicine, interacting with kids helps older people become more physically active and also significantly improves their mental health. Similarly, another user who goes by u/kleinsenpai said, "Honestly, this is such a wholesome idea. Imagine getting life advice, bomb homemade meals, and someone who actually listens to your problems. It's a way better deal than most dating apps to be honest."