Family Romance
The rental-family and stand-in service I founded — introduced in my own words as its representative.
Founded By
Yuichi Ishii
Cumulative Requests
18,000+
Registered Staff
5,000+
Official Site
family-romance.comA Child Rejected
for Lacking a "Father."
I started Family Romance entirely on my own after witnessing a single mother's child rejected from a kindergarten entrance interview simply because no father was present. I volunteered to play the father for the interview, and the child was accepted. That experience convinced me that if the "shape of a family" causes someone to suffer, a business could be built to fill that gap.
The company name comes from Sigmund Freud's psychological concept "Familienroman" (family romance) — the childhood fantasy that one's "real parents are someone else." My business made that fantasy a reality, on request.
"A child's future closed off because of the 'shape' of their family — I couldn't accept that."
— Yuichi Ishii
The full founding story, along with the latest company information, is published on the official website, family-romance.com.
Yuichi Ishii, founder and representative of Family Romance
Standing In for the Relationships People Need
Family Romance dispatches staff to play the role of a father, husband, wife, friend, romantic partner, wedding guest, chief mourner, or business escort — around 20 categories of stand-in service in total. Each is designed for a specific real-world situation: an entrance ceremony that requires a parent, a wedding that needs more guests on one side, a negotiation that goes better through a calm third party.
Since its founding, the company has handled over 18,000 requests and now works with a roster of more than 5,000 registered staff, processing around 500 requests per month. I personally continue to serve as "father" for a number of families myself, alongside running the company.
My own site introduces the outline of these services from a personal storytelling angle in the "Human Rental Agency" section. For the current, official service menu and pricing, please see family-romance.com.
A business meeting at the Family Romance office
Family stand-in (father, husband, wife, etc.)
Friend & romantic partner rental
Wedding & funeral proxy attendance
Apology & dispute mediation
Elderly companionship & business escort
"Joy More Real Than the Real Thing."
That is the motto I hold as Family Romance's representative. A rented relationship is not the real thing, and I never claim otherwise to a client. But the emotion felt in that moment — a child's smile, a moment of relief for someone who has no one else to turn to — is not fake. My job is to make that moment as real, and as valuable, as I possibly can.
This is a business I intend to keep running and improving. If you would like to learn more, request a service, or get in touch with the company, please visit the official Family Romance website.
Visit family-romance.comI am also involved in the butler world: About the All Japan Butler Association, About THE BUTLER, About Butler Bell, and About Japan Butler Academy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of company is Family Romance?
A rental-family and stand-in service I founded, dispatching staff to play the role a client needs — father, husband, friend, and around 20 other categories. Full service details are on family-romance.com.
What is Yuichi Ishii's role at the company?
I founded Family Romance and remain its representative today. Beyond running the company, I personally continue to play the "father" role for several families.
Where can I see pricing or apply?
This page is a founder's introduction to the business, not a booking page. Current pricing, service menus, and applications are handled through the official site, family-romance.com.