Yuichi Ishii Interview
Background

Hello. I'm Yuichi Ishii. Born in Tokyo in 1981.

I'm known as a pioneer in the human rental industry, having founded 'Family Romance,' a company offering family stand-in services and more. Guided by our corporate slogan 'Joy Beyond the Real,' I analyze and share insights about modern society and the psychology of our clients every day.

Currently, we have over 4,500 staff members nationwide and receive approximately 500 requests per month. I continue to work in the field myself, and as a rental father, 35 children from 23 families call me "Dad."

From age 20 to 23, I worked as a <strong>care worker</strong> at a nursing home, caring for the elderly. I'd always been good at communicating with people, so I thought this profession suited me.

This experience has been invaluable to my current work. Through interacting with elderly people, I learned the importance of "empathizing with others" and "thinking from their perspective."

Who I am today is built upon the many businesses and countless people I encountered during that time. Having experienced over 100 different occupations, I believe I can understand all kinds of "roles" and provide precise guidance to our staff.

2004: A Fateful Encounter at Age 24

Family Romance was founded in 2009, but the catalyst goes back to <strong>2004, when I was 24 years old</strong>.

A female friend who was raising her 4-year-old son as a single mother came to me with a problem. She wanted to enroll her son in a private kindergarten, but was <strong>being rejected at the document screening stage simply because she was a single mother</strong>.

"I want to give my son the best possible education for his future" -- it was a mother's heartfelt wish. Yet society rejected her wish based on form alone.

The First "Father Stand-in"

After hearing her story, I decided to pose as her husband and the boy's father to take the entrance exam together.

However, at that time I had no knowledge about family dynamics, and I couldn't build trust with the child. During the interview, the boy was wary of me, and I couldn't portray a natural parent-child relationship. It ended in failure.

This failure was a profound shock. "I was underprepared." "I should have spent more time with the child beforehand." -- The frustration and reflection became the foundation for what would become Family Romance.

Questioning Social Injustice

From that experience, I questioned why in Japanese society, <strong>where nuclear families are the norm, being a single parent alone could deny a child even the chance to take an entrance exam</strong>.

Why should a child's future be closed off by the "shape" of their family? The mother's love, the child's abilities -- nothing changes. Only the "family composition" on paper changes. The fact that formality takes priority over a person's true worth -- I felt deep indignation at this injustice.

The Deep Meaning Behind the Company Name

The company name "Family Romance" is taken from a <strong>concept proposed by Freud</strong>, the psychoanalyst. Freud's "Family Romance" refers to a child's fantasy of "the ideal family." It describes the psychological phenomenon where a child, dissatisfied with their real family, fantasizes that "my real parents must be much more wonderful people."

Perhaps we are helping to make those fantasies a reality -- by playing the "ideal father" that a child dreams of.

The Goal: Client Independence

Through our stand-in services, we aim for our clients to <strong>learn to become independent</strong>.

<strong>Honestly, it would be better if a stand-in business like ours didn't need to exist</strong>. But today's society demands it.

More Than Just a Stand-in

Our stand-in service is not just a substitute. <strong>We have a system that helps clients learn through therapy and grow toward independence</strong> while using our services.

For example, we give this kind of advice to single mothers using our father stand-in service:

"How do you explain 'Dad' to your child? 'Dad is busy with work and can only come once a month' -- by explaining it this way, your child can form the image that 'Dad works hard.' This may lead to a positive attitude toward work when they grow up."

We don't just "play a father" -- through the experience, the mother gains parenting insights. That is our true value.

Aiming for "Graduation"

Through our services, we hope for the day when our clients can become independent and no longer need us. That is our <strong>ultimate goal</strong>.

When clients regain their confidence and can build genuine relationships -- when they can "graduate" from our stand-in service -- that is our true success.

Truthfully, a society where services like ours don't need to exist would be better. A society where people are not isolated, where everyone lives surrounded by real family and friends. Until that day comes, we will continue to "fill the gaps in society."