Photo: PR Times
lifestyle

You can now rent 'fat people' in Japan

19 Comments
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24

One of the more unusual industries to appear in Japan in recent years is the rent-a-person business. There were the rent-a-middle-aged-dude and rent-a-sister services we tried out, for example, and now comes a new innovation: a company that will let you rent a “fat” person.

We should point out that the “fat” designation come from the company itself, which is called Debucari, from the Japanese words debu (“fat”) and kariru (“rent”). Debucari’s weight threshold is 100 kilograms, but they also have over-125 and over-150-kilogram classes.

▼ Debucari promotional video

Another important point is that Debucari is not a romantic escort, erotic entertainment, or otherwise titillating service. The company states that its goal is to promote “progression away from an era where being fat had a negative image,” asserting that “in Japan, it takes skill to reach a weight of over 100 kilograms.” In fact, it’s actually an offshoot of plus-sized men’s clothing store Qzilla by Mr Bliss, although Debucari also offers women and “other”-gender people.

DK-2.jpg

So why does Debucari think someone might want to rent a heavyset person? For commercial clients, they say they can provide plus-sized models and extras for photo shoots and TV/movie filming. However, individuals can also rent a debu person for personal, non-business purposes, with Debucari’s suggested uses including:

I want help eating a crazy-large portion menu item at a restaurant.

I want help picking out a present for someone I know who’s heavyset.

I’m doing cosplay and want someone to dress as a heavyset character from the series.

I want someone to stand by me when I take a picture so I’ll look thinner.

I have a problem that I want advice from a heavyset person about.

I want someone to play on a seesaw with me.

▼ Video examples of the type of experiences Debucari envisions

Debucari charges 2,000 yen an hour for non-business-use rentals, with the entire fee being paid to the heavyset person. They’re also looking for debu people to register with them, plus offer a full list of their current members, on their website here.

Source: PR Times

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

-- Survey picks “thin” as second-least-attractive body type for Japanese women

-- We tried Tokyo’s “rent a middle-aged Japanese man” service, and it was awesome!

-- More marshmallow girls, but will we be calling them marshmallows for much longer?!

© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

19 Comments
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Very misleading title. So it’s like a “talent” agency.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Fat Japanese, for re-inforcing those stereotypes about them. Pathetic.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Should import some from the US. You could definitely rent in bulk.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Im fat. CoronaFat to be exact. Its disgusting and Im exercising everyday to get back to my normal weight. Fat is not healthy. And using fat people for commercial use tells children that being fat is good. Its not.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

This is obscene.

Big Food must be thrilled.

More sugars, fats and additives, please.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

The description "FAT" is not politically correct!

It's mean and insensitive!

Body shaming is WRONG!

...is what the social justice warriors say, these days.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Having photos of obese people stuffing their faces with food and promoting over-eating is not doing anyone any favours.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

I don't understand this recent trend. TV competitions to see who can eat more, companies coming up with more and more fried-fat food combinations, different forms of sugar even in very basic foods like yogurt, etc. And now this. I understand their business model, but it doesn't seem quite right to me.

In a sense, they profit from the fact that their employees will have heart problems at a young age, diabetes, or die prematurely. And whoever is paying for this service is, in a sense, supporting it.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Having photos of obese people stuffing their faces with food and promoting over-eating is not doing anyone any favours.

Is it better to have thin if not anorexic people do it ?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The company states that its goal is to promote “progression away from an era where being fat had a negative image,”

There is NOTHING about being fat that isn't negative.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Huh? Confused by the double, or triple-negative statement @Mr Kipling 7:20pm

- [progression away from an era where being fat had a negative image.] - “There is NOTHING about being fat that isn't negative.

“Everything about being fat is negative”, perhaps?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Thank the gods, this isn’t a new kind of ‘deribarii herusu’ in Japan! -

However, it could be quite a ‘niche business’ for the right entrepreneurs and select clientele of ‘certain tastes’. (Double-cheese pizza, extra-pepperoni comes to mind.)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

George Carlin once observed:

‘Becoming fat’ is literally on ‘the plus side’ of gaining weight yet, regarded as a reflection of ‘negative’ health choices.

Conversely, losing weight is actually on ‘the minus side’ of weight loss, yet figuratively a ‘positive’ lifestyle change.

A wise man who saw the world as it actually is. - RIP, George. (You would definitely have a lot to talk about in recents years.)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Didn't the term 'fat and happy' arise around the time of the Buddha? Maybe 'satori' simply isn't available to stressed 'skinny' people...and seeing the people in the picture, it looks like sitting down or hanging out with any one of them would be a good time...and fat people make good bodyguards, easy to get behind...ah, what nonsense...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

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