Japan is living ahead of time, like in all the senses. Feeling heartbroken, stressed or simply overwhelmed? The country offers an unusual solution for this too; hire a handsome man, put on something sad and let the tears flow on his shoulder. In a city known for its neon-lit streets, vending machines selling almost everything and cafés dedicated to some of the most unexpected themes, Japan once offered a service that sounds straight out of a romantic film. You could hire a handsome man to watch you cry and gently wipe away your tears.No, don’t think of it as a dating service, nor was it a scene from a Japanese drama. It was a real concept called Ikemeso Danshi, which made headlines internationally in 2015. It was a unique service wherein they would send attractive male companions to clients, particularly women in workplaces, to help them have a good cry.It was more like emotional support with an unexpected twist. Instead of calling a friend, you could have a handsome stranger arrive with a handkerchief.A handsome man, a box of tissues and permission to cry
Japan couple (AI-Generated)
The name Ikemeso Danshi combines ikemen, meaning a handsome man in Japanese, with mesomeso, which conveys sobbing or crying. The concept was developed by Japanese entrepreneur Hiroki Terai, who had previously organised events encouraging people to cry together.The service, also reported under the name Ikemeso Takyubin, offered something rather different from the usual idea of hiring a companion. These men were not simply there to keep clients company. Their role was to help create an atmosphere in which people felt comfortable to let emotions out.As per reports published at the time, clients could choose from profiles of handsome men. The selected companion would visit their workplace and use emotional videos or stories to help bring on the tears.And when the crying began? The companion would gently wipe the client’s tears with a handkerchief.Cost of the serviceThe service was reported to cost 7,900 yen per session in 2015. It was particularly aimed at women dealing with the pressures of working life, offering them an unusual way to take an emotional break without having to explain themselves to colleagues.Why would anyone pay someone to watch them cry?
Sad woman (Canva)
In Japan, the idea was linked to rui-katsu, a term commonly used for deliberately seeking opportunities to cry. Rather than treating tears as something embarrassing that must be hidden, the practice encourages people to make space for emotional release.The concept behind Ikemeso Danshi was that a carefully created environment could help people who had been bottling up their feelings finally let go. The presence of a sympathetic companion was intended to make that experience more comfortable.There is also a curious contrast at the heart of the idea. We are used to hiring people to make us laugh, entertain us, teach us something or help us relax. Paying somebody to help us cry sounds almost absurd until we consider how often people suppress their emotions in public.Of course, crying does not automatically make every problem disappear. Nor is there scientific proof that a handsome man wiping away your tears is more effective than crying with a trusted friend. The service was a novel form of companionship, not a substitute for professional mental health care.Can travellers experience this side of Japan today?The service was documented in 2015, and its current availability could not be verified. Travellers should therefore treat it as an unusual chapter in Japan’s urban culture rather than an attraction they can confidently book today.
