If there's one thing we all love, it's a good old moan. Complaining about the terrible weather, whining about noisy eaters, mouthing off about about PPI calls. Anything. Everything.
But in Japan, it doesn't have to be a case of bitching to colleagues behind someone's back or whining about your other half over a beer with your mate, as a business has launched that lets people rant to a complete stranger for just £6.76 an hour, or 1,000 Japanese Yen.
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Takanobu Nishimoto, a 50-year-old fashion consultant, started the online service called 'Ossan Rental' in Tokyo back in 2012.
'Ossan' is a derogatory term for 'uncles' or middle-aged men in Japan, meaning that unlike actual therapy where you seek clinical help, with this service you're just paying someone to be a bit of an agony aunt - or agony uncle, rather.
Nishimoto told The Straits Times that he set up the service to remove all the negative stereotypes of Japanese 'uncles'.
He said: "Initially, I thought that young men seeking advice would make up most of the clientele, but it was women from their twenties to fifties."
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If you're willing to part with almost £7 an hour you can have a middle-aged man listening to your problems - although customers' needs vary, meaning the Ossans can do just about anything.
Along with dishing out career and love advice, they can also be someone's companion at a concert, act as a boyfriend to ward off stalkers or even help move furniture.
The website now receives around 900 bookings a month with the most popular Ossans undertaking up to 60 bookings a month, earning them around £675 a month.
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Speaking to The Japanese Times, Ossan Hideki Nakahara reiterated that he isn't a counselor, but he is there to help.
"A lot of people need advice on their lives, their careers or their relationships," he said.
"I'm not a counselor, but I thought my experience might help someone out there."
To become an Ossan, applicants are screened to ensure that they are not overly long-winded, which is a trait which many of Nishimoto's clients dislikes, and are also subject to a compulsory criminal record check.
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Ossans also aren't allowed to touch clients or do anything that would result in a physical relationship.
Sure, getting £675 a month for listening to people whinge may sound pretty cushty, but I'm sure many of us might stumble a bit when it comes to actually giving advice.
And as for helping moving furniture?! You can forget it, mate.
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: World News, News, Japan