The number of rent-a-friend agencies in Japan has doubled to about 10 in the past eight years. The best known, Office Agent, has 1,000 people on its books.
[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/20/japan-relatives-professional-stand-ins[/URL]
[url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/20/japan-relatives-professional-stand-ins[/URL]