IT'S NOW POSSIBLE TO RENT A GRANDMA IN JAPAN TO LEARN HOW TO COOK AND BREAK-UP WITH A BOYFRIEND
Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications estimates that 9.1 million employees were 65 years of age or older in 2023. This means one in four seniors were still in the workforce, looking for extra income to supplement their pensions. For older women, many of whom lack a college degree or professional experience, this is especially challenging. A corporation called OK Obaachan, which translates to "Ok granny," was established in an attempt to assist these elderly folks by enabling individuals to "hire" a grandmother for a set hourly rate.
Client Partners, which operates OK Obaachan, is a "women-only handyman firm" that locates employment for women of all ages and abilities. There are roughly 100 women in the OK Obaachan division, ranging in age from 60 to 94. To join this program, all the women need is the wisdom they’ve accumulated over their life.
“There are many people who want to contribute to society even as they get older,” says the company. “And in fact, the experience and abilities of older people are of great use to society.”
People rent a grandmother for a variety of reasons. Most often, they need someone to listen to them, babysit, or teach them how to do chores. These grandmothers are frequently consulted for guidance on issues such as mending a broken heart or getting along with family members. They can also be hired to knit or sew clothing, make hearty handmade meals, and write items by hand using their exquisite handwriting.
They’re open to more random tasks as well. The OK Obaachan site lists things their grandmas have done and could do. They may assist in breaking up with a lover, resolve family conflicts, teach a new mother how to raise a child, and encourage homosexual men who come out to their families. When there weren't enough living relatives to attend their wedding, one person hired a grandmother, and another person wanted a grandmother-like character to support their child and record films at a sporting event.
Not everyone can be an OK Obaachan, even though applications are still being accepted. According to Client Partners, the ideal grandmother is compassionate, devoted, diligent, and considerate of others' feelings. They also need to be open-minded because they could have to deal with issues that Japanese society may not approve of, such as unmarried mothers. People have described their allocated grandmothers as being incredibly dependable and kind as a result of this screening process. Many of the grandmothers, in turn, discovered meaning in their missions.
“The merit of age is the ability to remain unfazed by small things,” adds Client Partners. “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.”