You may remember that, in Japan, you can rent fake family members to fight loneliness (or for other reasons, like you want your kid to have a "dad"). Well, Conan O'Brien has been filming in Japan and, while in Tokyo, he hired a new wife, daughter, and father. He told them right from the start that they must laugh at his jokes (his real wife is "tired" of them, he says) and they do, even when it's inappropriate. It's funny, as are the other "Conan Without Borders" videos he and his crew shot in Japan. You can watch them all at the Team Coco website. If you love vending machines like I do, don't miss the one labeled "Tokyo."

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These Hanao Shoes are two mints in one. They are a combination of geta sandals (those traditional Japanese clogs/flip flops) and white sneakers. They're made by Who Love Kyoto and appear to be sold out at this time.

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. HANAO STORE Craftsman #1 ENAMIの商品が全て完売いたしました。 この度は待望の試みであった 伝統文化の職人と"新しい鼻緒"を制作・発売ができたことを、とても嬉しく思っております。 ご購入いただいた皆様、誠にありがとうございました。 祇園祭にて菊水鉾のお茶席を担当しておられた皆様に履いていただきました。 今後のWhole Love Kyotoの取り組みにもご注目ください。 . . #京都 #Kyoto #WholeLoveKyoto #wlkonline #wlksnap #真田紐 #真田紐師江南 #HANAOSHOES #HANAO #鼻緒シューズ #鼻緒 #職人 #伝統工芸 #伝統文化 #碁盤の目 #ギンガムチェック #ginghamcheck #gingham #madeinjapan #madeinkyoto #shoes #sneaker #fashion #祇園祭 #gionmatsuri

A post shared by Whole Love Kyoto (@wholelovekyoto) on Jul 20, 2018 at 5:32am PDT

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. 【News】 7/16（Mon）18:00-7/22（Sun） HANAO SHOES Craftsman #1 ENAMI（SANADAHIMO） . Whole Love KyotoのHANAO SHOESは、京都の伝統文化の職人と協働して"新しい鼻緒"を制作しています。 この度、その初めてのコレクションとして秘密の紐として知られる「真田紐・江南」とのコラボレーションが実現しました。 . 祇園祭で賑わう八坂神社にてsnap撮影をさせていただきました。 前つぼに真田紐を用いたHANAO SHOESです。 爽やかな浴衣に青と薄あずき色の真田紐が夏の足元を 素敵に演出します。 . . 本日よりONLINE STOREにて販売中です。 Whole Love Kyotoのホームページよりご購入いただけます。 ぜひ、ご覧ください。 . . #京都 #Kyoto #WholeLoveKyoto #wlkonline #真田紐 #真田紐師江南 #HANAOSHOES #HANAO #鼻緒シューズ #鼻緒 #職人 #伝統工芸 #伝統文化 #碁盤の目 #ギンガムチェック #ginghamcheck #gingham #madeinjapan #madeinkyoto #shoes #sneaker #fashion #祇園祭 #gionmatsuri

A post shared by Whole Love Kyoto (@wholelovekyoto) on Jul 16, 2018 at 5:48am PDT

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This is like an episode of Black Mirror waiting to happen.

You want your lonely child to, say, have a "father." Or maybe you just want to go out on some dates with someone nice, someone safe.

In short, you want someone to care, or at least act like they do. You think it would be easier -- cleaner -- to pay someone than to actually find someone in real life.

So, you go online and hire someone like Ishii Yuichi, owner of Family Romance in Japan, to play that role. It seems harmless at first, but then you both have to live with that lie.

What could possibly go wrong?

In an article Tuesday, The Atlantic interviewed Yuichi who shares what it's like to be that for-hire "loved one." Here's what he said it feels like to play "daddy" to an unsuspecting fatherless girl:

It’s a business. I’m not going to be her father for 24 hours. It’s a set time. When I am acting with her, I don't really feel that I love her, but when the session is over and I have to go, I do feel a little sad. The kids cry sometimes. They say, “Why do you have to leave?” In those instances, I feel very sorry that I’m faking it—very guilty. There are times, when I’m done with the work and I come back home, where I sit and watch TV. I find myself wondering, “Is this, now, the real me, or the actor?”...