
FRIEND SERVICE
Your new friend, starting today. We provide the perfect companion for any occasion.
Friend proxy service is a service that provides stand-in friends on your behalf. Whether you need someone to hang out with, fill seats at a group date, or simply keep you company, we arrange the ideal companion. We cover everything from drinking buddies and theme park companions to karaoke partners.
At Family Romance, we match you with the ideal companion from over 5,000 registered staff nationwide, based on shared interests, age, and personality. We flexibly arrange one person or an entire group — male or female — for group dates, sports, shopping trips, social media photo sessions, and any other occasion.

Professional
FRIEND SERVICE
We match you with the ideal stand-in friend based on shared hobbies, age, and personality. Carefully selected from over 5,000 staff members. Both male and female staff available, ranging from their 20s to 60s.
Group dates, drinking parties, theme parks, karaoke, sports, shopping trips — any scenario is covered. From casual outings to meaningful companionship, our experienced friend stand-in staff meet every need.
Available anywhere in Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. With our monthly plan, the same staff member continues as your companion, building a natural friendship that deepens over time.
Our professional stand-in service can solve these challenges.

A last-minute group date is planned but you can't round up enough friends. You lack opposite-gender friends and need a balanced group. You need a reliable stand-in friend on short notice — even the day before or the day of.

You've just transferred or moved and have no one to spend weekends with. Weeks of lonely days pass in an unfamiliar city. You need someone who can be a stand-in friend in your new hometown.

You want someone to enjoy concerts, theme parks, karaoke, or sports with. You can't find anyone who shares your interests and end up holding back on doing what you love. You're looking for a companion who shares your passions.

Some places are awkward to visit alone — couple's tables at restaurants, theme parks, karaoke rooms, or events. Seeing groups having fun around you makes the loneliness worse. You need a companion to go with you.

You want natural-looking photos with friends to share on social media. Solo shots can look lonely, so you want to project a vibrant, fulfilling social life. You need Instagram and TikTok-worthy photos.

You don't have enough friends to invite to a wedding after-party or social event. You want stand-in friends to create a lively atmosphere. You need sociable companions who can energize the gathering.
Our stand-in services can be utilized in a wide variety of events and situations.

A friend to chat with at an izakaya or bar — talk about work, hobbies, or anything on your mind. Enjoy the kind of fun drinking experience you just can't have alone. Our approachable, attentive staff also make great listeners for life advice or personal concerns.

We help you capture social media-ready photos and project a vibrant lifestyle. Cafe hopping, event attendance, group outings — get natural-looking, fun photos with friends. Perfect for creating content for Instagram and TikTok.

Our socially skilled staff liven up group dates and drinking parties. Leave the male-to-female ratio and age balance to us. Even if last-minute changes leave you short on people, we arrange replacements flexibly. Staff with a keen sense for reading the room join as natural-looking friends.

For those who find solo karaoke unsatisfying, want a duet partner, or need a practice buddy. Our music-loving staff join in the fun. Experience the joy of karaoke with friends — scoring battles, new song challenges, and more.

A stand-in friend to enjoy Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan, Fuji-Q Highland, and more together. Let us help choose rides, take photos, and keep you company in line. You can finally enjoy those two-rider attractions that are awkward to ride alone.

A companion for your shopping trips who offers honest advice on outfits and product selections. Get objective, straightforward opinions. Whether it's choosing clothes, furniture, electronics, or gifts — we help with purchases you can't decide on alone.

A partner to join you for tennis, golf, hiking, the gym, bowling, cycling, and other sports or outdoor activities. Many of our staff are experienced athletes. We provide gentle support for beginners and serious competition for advanced players.

For those who've just relocated for work or moved to a new city. Local staff show you the best spots while spending fun weekends together. With ongoing use, a natural friendship develops over time.
* For privacy and confidentiality, specific event names are withheld; only service names are listed.
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Japan's largest agency. Trusted quality.
We match you with the ideal companion based on hobbies, age, and personality. Your preferred type of friend can be arranged anywhere in Japan. Both male and female staff are available, spanning ages from their 20s to 60s. With registered staff across every region from Hokkaido to Okinawa, rapid arrangements are possible in urban areas. Our proprietary rating system ranks staff to ensure consistently high quality.
From livening up group dates to hobby outings, karaoke sessions, sports companionship, and shopping trips — we cover every scenario. Our communication-savvy staff instantly read the room and act as natural, enjoyable friends. By pairing compatible staff together, we maximize the energy at group dates and drinking parties. Experienced operators are always on hand to recommend the best staff match based on the occasion and your interests.
Communication-skilled staff naturally fill the role of your friend. With the ability to break the ice immediately — even with someone they've just met — our staff guarantee you a genuinely enjoyable time. We create a natural-looking friendship that no one around you will question. With over 3,000 friend stand-in engagements per year and a client satisfaction rate above 98%, our repeat rate is remarkably high. Featured extensively in TV, film, and books.
Clear pricing starting at ¥12,000 for 3 hours. Extensions are ¥2,000 per 30 minutes, stated upfront — no surprise charges. Food and drink costs are borne by the client, but a pre-arranged estimate ensures peace of mind.
Choose the best plan to suit your needs. We can also accommodate requests not listed here.

A stand-in friend to accompany you on weekend outings, drinking parties, shopping trips, conversations, and any other occasion
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Support for social media photo shoots, event attendance, and creating a vibrant lifestyle image
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Adjust headcounts and set the mood at group dates and drinking parties. A powerful ally for the organizer
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Hire a karaoke buddy to sing with. Perfect as a duet partner or practice companion
View DetailsConfidential — Nationwide — Free
Contact us via email, phone, or LINE. Anonymous consultations are welcome.
Base Price
Extension Rate
Estimated Total (excl. tax)
* Transportation and option fees are separate.
* Option details and pricing vary by service.
First time hiring a friend stand-in? Rest assured — from your initial inquiry to the day of the engagement, a dedicated coordinator will guide you every step of the way to match the occasion where you need a companion.

Reach out via email, phone, or LINE for a free consultation

We present the best plan tailored to your occasion

Photo confirmation available We select the perfect companion for you

Payment after finalizing details No hidden fees whatsoever

Your experienced companion staff delivers a genuinely fun experience
"I am a repeat customer. I book about once a month. I have been able to request the same person more often now, and conversation gets easier every time we meet. I find it invaluable because I can casually discuss things that are hard to talk about with real friends."
"After retiring, I had fewer chances to talk to people, so I used the friend rental service. We just chatted while walking, but I laughed for the first time in a while. My wife even said I seemed brighter."
"I had just changed jobs and could not fit in at work, so I wanted someone to talk to on weekends. A person who shared my hobbies came, and I felt refreshed. I want to use this again."
"I had moved to a new city with zero acquaintances. We went to lunch together, and they even recommended local restaurants — a double benefit. They were friendly and I felt at ease."
"I live alone and had no one to talk to, but the person who came was a great listener and seemed to enjoy hearing my stories from the past. It was a wonderful time that made me want to meet again."
Our friend stand-in service is generally available with same-gender staff only. Male clients are paired with male staff, and female clients with female staff. However, when you request a male-female pair of two staff members, the service is available regardless of the client's gender.
Tell us your preferred hobbies and topics, and we'll introduce a matching staff member. We cover a wide range of interests — music, sports, gaming, anime, travel, food, and more. Specific requests like 'someone who can go to concerts with me' are absolutely welcome.
We can arrange from 1 person to groups of 10 or more. Beyond group date headcounts, we accept group bookings for drinking parties, barbecues, sports events, and more. Feel free to discuss gender ratio adjustments and age range preferences.
Rest assured. Our staff are communication experts. We conduct a thorough briefing beforehand to understand your situation and preferences, then portray a natural friendship. Even at group dates and drinking parties, they behave as a 'real friend' — it's virtually undetectable. Strict confidentiality is always maintained.
Yes, depending on staff availability, we can arrange things quickly. In urban areas, we can often accommodate urgent requests within a few hours. If you're in a hurry, calling us by phone is the fastest way to get things moving.
The friend stand-in service is designed to create a casual, platonic friendship experience. It covers group date companionship, theme park and drinking party attendance, and hobby outings — all framed as a natural 'friend' relationship. The partner stand-in service centers on romantic date scenarios and has different service offerings.
Yes, extensions are available in 30-minute increments at ¥2,000 per 30 minutes. Same-day extensions are possible if the staff member's schedule allows, so don't hesitate to ask if you'd like to continue. Booking a longer plan in advance can be more cost-effective.
Food and drink costs are borne by the client. To create a natural friend-like feel, splitting the bill is also an option. If you're unsure where to eat, our staff can suggest great restaurants — just ask.
Transportation within central Tokyo (23 wards) is generally included in the fee. For locations outside central Tokyo or in distant areas, actual transportation costs are charged separately. Since we have registered staff in each region, arranging local staff can help keep travel costs down.
Yes, with our ongoing plan, you can request the same staff member each time. Requesting the same person continuously is fully supported. As you meet more often, you develop a mutual understanding of each other's hobbies and preferences, leading to a more natural and deeper friendship experience.
Please refer to our cancellation policy for details on cancellations and refunds. If you have unavoidable circumstances, please contact us as early as possible.
Absolutely. We coordinate the backstory in advance — college friends, work colleagues, and so on — so the staff member joins the group date naturally. We share detailed anecdotes and background stories beforehand to ensure nothing seems out of place.
Yes, female clients can use our service with complete peace of mind. All staff have undergone identity verification and are experienced. You can specify a female staff member, and even if you request a male staff member, activities take place in public settings as a standard practice.
We strictly uphold confidentiality obligations. Your personal information and request details are never disclosed to any outside party. Non-disclosure agreements are signed with all staff, and unauthorized social media posts are prohibited. You can use our service with complete confidence.
We can accompany you in the waiting room or during hospital visits as a friend. However, we cannot sit in on doctor consultations as a family member or receive medical explanations on your behalf. For proxy services through our company, please consult us separately.
For our group date energizer service, one female staff member can attend as a female client's friend — limited to izakaya (Japanese pubs) only (this applies even when male guests are present on the other side). However, this is not available in enclosed private spaces such as karaoke rooms or private dining rooms.
We have registered staff in all 47 prefectures. We can arrange local staff even for regional events.
Tokyo / Kanagawa / Chiba / Saitama / Ibaraki / Tochigi / Gunma
Osaka / Kyoto / Hyogo / Nara / Shiga / Wakayama
Aichi / Shizuoka / Gifu / Mie / Nagano / Niigata / Toyama / Ishikawa / Fukui
Fukuoka / Saga / Nagasaki / Kumamoto / Oita / Miyazaki / Kagoshima / Okinawa
Hokkaido / Aomori / Iwate / Miyagi / Akita / Yamagata / Fukushima
Hiroshima / Okayama / Yamaguchi / Tottori / Shimane / Kagawa / Tokushima / Ehime / Kochi
We have been featured in numerous TV shows, films, books, and international media.
Directed by Werner Herzog. Official screening at the Cannes Film Festival. CEO Yuichi Ishii appeared as himself.
A theatrical film based on Yuichi Ishii's book. Released nationwide in 2023. A critically acclaimed work depicting the reality of family stand-in services.
Written by CEO Yuichi Ishii (published by Tetsujinsha).
Featured on multiple NHK General and E-Tele programs. The social significance of stand-in services was highlighted.
Featured extensively on news and variety programs.
Covered in news and documentary programs. In-depth exploration of the social significance of stand-in services.
Featured on talk shows and news programs. Behind-the-scenes coverage of friend stand-in services.
Covered by BBC, CNN, Reuters, and other major international outlets. Gained worldwide attention as a uniquely Japanese stand-in culture.
Directed by Werner Herzog. Official screening at the Cannes Film Festival. CEO Yuichi Ishii appeared as himself.
A theatrical film based on Yuichi Ishii's book. Released nationwide in 2023. A critically acclaimed work depicting the reality of family stand-in services.
Written by CEO Yuichi Ishii (published by Tetsujinsha).
Featured on multiple NHK General and E-Tele programs. The social significance of stand-in services was highlighted.
Featured extensively on news and variety programs.
Covered in news and documentary programs. In-depth exploration of the social significance of stand-in services.
Featured on talk shows and news programs. Behind-the-scenes coverage of friend stand-in services.
Covered by BBC, CNN, Reuters, and other major international outlets. Gained worldwide attention as a uniquely Japanese stand-in culture.
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For urgent inquiries, please call us at {phone}.0120-949-341