{"id":45807,"date":"2025-08-11T12:45:54","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T10:45:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/?p=45807"},"modified":"2026-01-22T13:48:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T12:48:10","slug":"in-japan-it-is-possible-to-hire-a-grandmother-for-companionship-and-life-advice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/in-japan-it-is-possible-to-hire-a-grandmother-for-companionship-and-life-advice\/","title":{"rendered":"In Japan, it is possible to hire a grandmother for companionship and life advice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In Japan, the wisdom, warmth, and experience of a grandmother can now come to your home&#8230; simply by making a reservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/une-grand-mere-japon-1024x576.png\" alt=\"grandmother\" class=\"wp-image-45808\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/une-grand-mere-japon-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/une-grand-mere-japon-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/une-grand-mere-japon-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/une-grand-mere-japon.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list has-ast-global-color-6-background-color has-background\">\n<li>In Japan, the \u201cOK Obaachan\u201d service allows people to hire grandmothers aged 60 to 94 for cooking, advice, help, or companionship.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Created in 2011, it provides additional income for seniors who are often in precarious situations and combats loneliness.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approximately 100 grandmothers are registered, with a rate of 3,300 yen per hour, plus travel expenses.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Services range from passing on skills to providing support during events or difficult situations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This concept illustrates a humane and innovative response to the challenges of aging and isolation in Japan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">OK Obaachan: A unique service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>OK Obaachan<\/strong> service, literally OK Grandmother, employs <strong>women aged 60 to 94<\/strong> for <strong>a wide range of tasks<\/strong>: traditional cooking, homework help, attentive listening, life advice, accompanying clients to events, and even providing support in emotionally delicate situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Launched in 2011 by <strong>Client Partners<\/strong>, a company providing \u201chome services for women\u201d that employs only women, this service addresses two major issues: <strong>providing additional income to seniors <\/strong>who are often economically vulnerable, and creating human connections <strong>in an aging society facing loneliness<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A response to the precarious situation of Japanese seniors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the <strong>Japan<\/strong> Statistics Bureau, nearly a quarter of people over the age of 65 remain active, representing approximately <strong>9.3 million people<\/strong>. For many older women, <strong>retirement pensions are insufficient<\/strong>: careers interrupted to raise children, part-time jobs, or a lack of regular contributions significantly reduce <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/ageing-in-japan-a-record-budget-to-tackle-a-dual-crisis-demographic-and-geopolitical\/\">retirement income<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Client Partners, around<strong> 100 \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/granny-showers-between-genuine-celebration-and-narcissistic-drift-a-divisive-trend\/\">grandmothers<\/a>\u201d<\/strong> are registered with the OK Obaachan program. The rate is set at 3,300 yen per hour (approximately \u20ac22), plus travel expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For some, such as 69-year-old<strong> Taeko Kaji<\/strong>, this activity is a real breath of fresh air: \u201c<em>I never get bored. I have the opportunity to go out, meet people, and it gives meaning to my life<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/asie-route-aidant_695256664-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"grandmother asia\" class=\"wp-image-45810\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/asie-route-aidant_695256664-2048x1365-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/asie-route-aidant_695256664-2048x1365-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/asie-route-aidant_695256664-2048x1365-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/asie-route-aidant_695256664-2048x1365-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/asie-route-aidant_695256664-2048x1365-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">OK Obaachan: A grandmother for every occasion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>While cooking is one of the most requested services<\/strong>, learning how to make miso soup or gyozas, the range of services is wide. Grandmothers can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/croatia-a-city-pays-grandparents-to-look-after-their-grandchildren-a-social-response-to-a-double-crisis\/\">babysit<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pass on traditional skills<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>teach calligraphy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>write letters by hand with a beautiful pen<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>manage family conflicts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>accompany clients to important events<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Some assignments are more unusual<\/strong>: being present during a coming-out to support the person facing their family, assisting with a breakup, or even replacing an absent loved one at a child&#8217;s wedding or sports game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Much more than just a grandmother<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This service meets<strong> two major needs<\/strong>: providing elderly women with a source of income and a sense of social usefulness, while offering a warm presence to those who live far from their families or suffer from <strong>isolation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Client Partners stands out by reserving its services for women, thereby <strong>valuing the skills traditionally associated with the maternal and family role<\/strong>. Other similar services exist in Japan, such as<strong> the rental of older men<\/strong>, but the \u201c<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/hello-scammers-i-am-your-worst-nightmare-daisy-the-retired-ai-fighting-fraud-hustlers\/\">grandmother<\/a><\/strong> formula\u201d has been particularly well received.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/9-1-1024x576.png\" alt=\"intergenerational ties\" class=\"wp-image-45811\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/9-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/9-1-400x225.png 400w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/9-1-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/9-1.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mixed reactions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>On social media<\/strong>, the concept has been met with both enthusiasm and reservations. Some praise it as a brilliant idea that responds to a real need to feel useful. Others say they feel uncomfortable with the idea of \u201c<strong>renting<\/strong>\u201d human beings or question the reliability of the caregivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A humane response to the challenges of Japan&#8217;s aging population<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>More broadly, this trend illustrates how <strong>Japanese society is adapting to demographic changes<\/strong>, where maintaining human connections and reinventing work for seniors are becoming increasingly important. By offering rewarding work to older women and valuable assistance to the most <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.silvereco.org\/en\/lonely-deathskodokushi-in-japan-the-growing-challenge-of-an-ageing-society\/\">isolated<\/a><\/strong>, the \u201cOK Obaachan\u201d service symbolizes an innovative and humane response to the economic and social challenges of contemporary Japan, provided that this solution <strong>does not become a fragile palliative<\/strong> in the <strong>absence of genuine public policies<\/strong> to support the elderly and combat loneliness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In #Japan, it is possible to #hire a #grandmother for #companionship and life #advice<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":45808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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#Japan, it is possible to #hire a #grandmother for #companionship and life 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