WHY CHOOSE US
Why Choose Us
While there are other companies offering proxy and stand-in services, here is why Family Romance continues to be chosen.
Founded
22
yrs
Total Cases
100,000
cases+
Staff
5,000
members+
Media
200
features+
Overwhelming Track Record and Trust
22 years in business, over 100,000 cases completed
Since our founding in 2004, we have dedicated 22 years exclusively to proxy and stand-in services. Family Romance is Japan's longest-running and most accomplished agency in this field.
How It All Started
When CEO Yuichi Ishii was 24, a single-mother friend was facing a kindergarten entrance interview. Worried that the absence of a father might be a disadvantage, Ishii accompanied her as the father. The child was accepted — and this experience became the origin of Family Romance.
Today we receive over 500 requests per month, serving a wide range of clients from individuals to corporations and local governments.
Key Achievements
High Repeat Rate
- Trust built through meticulous character preparation
- Ability to arrange the same staff for repeat assignments
- Previous feedback incorporated into future sessions
- Building long-term trust with clients
Meticulous Character Preparation
Thorough pre-interview process backed by 22 years of expertise
Family Romance's strength lies in crafting detailed character settings tailored to each client's situation. We don't simply "arrange people" — we create individuals who blend naturally into any scenario.
Role Comparison: Wedding Friend Role
| Item | College Friend Role | Coworker Role |
|---|---|---|
| Tone | Casual / informal | Polite / semi-formal |
| Attire | Smart casual | Business formal |
| Name usage | Nicknames / first name | Last name + honorific |
| Topics | College clubs / trips / old memories | Work / projects / after-work events |
Character Detail Crafting
Field Know-How
The ability to improvise in unscripted situations is our greatest strength, honed over 22 years. Our staff can adapt flexibly to unexpected questions and changing circumstances.
Example: The golden rule for playing a father at a sports day — Never zoom in when filming. By shooting wide, the child naturally thinks, "Dad's not great at filming," creating authentic realism.
This attention to detail is what leads clients to say, "It felt completely real." The know-how accumulated over 22 years is our greatest asset — one that cannot be replicated by competitors.
A Diverse Network of 5,000+ Staff Nationwide
All 47 prefectures, ages 0 to 85
Family Romance has over 5,000 registered staff across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Our staff ranges from newborn babies to seniors aged 85, covering every age group, gender, and occupation.
Diverse Backgrounds
Most of our staff have primary careers alongside their proxy work. This is precisely why they can blend naturally into a wide variety of roles.
Sincerity, Not Acting
What we seek in our staff is not acting ability, but genuine sincerity. Rather than flawless scripted performances, we value natural behavior that empathizes with the other person's feelings.
Staff Rank System
A ranking system based on experience, track record, and client feedback. We accumulate individual evaluations to support continuous skill development.
Long-Term Track Record
CEO Ishii serves as a father figure for 23 families and 35 children, with the longest engagement exceeding 10 years. Husband/father proxies are limited to 5 families per person to maintain quality.
Group Management
We track staff who regularly work together and can arrange them as a team. This allows us to portray natural group dynamics, such as a friend group at a wedding.
Transparency and Trust Through Media Exposure
Featured in over 200 domestic and international media outlets
Family Romance has been continuously covered by major domestic and international media, and our transparency and credibility are widely recognized. CEO Yuichi Ishii personally appears in interviews, and our office is open to the public.
Television
NHK "Close-up Gendai," BBC, CNN, TBS, Fuji TV, Nippon TV, TV Asahi
Newspapers & Magazines
Nikkei, Yomiuri, Asahi Shimbun, The New York Times, The Guardian
International Media
BBC, CNN, Wall Street Journal, AFP
Official Selection at Cannes Film Festival
In 2019, legendary director Werner Herzog's film "Family Romance, LLC" was officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival. CEO Yuichi Ishii starred in the lead role.
Based on Family Romance's actual operations, the film became a worldwide sensation.
Book: "The Human Rental Shop" (2020)
This book presents 30 carefully selected episodes from over 13,000 cases. The CEO himself writes about the human stories witnessed on the front lines of proxy services.
Thorough Privacy Protection
Strict NDAs and rigorous information management
Proxy services handle clients' most private information. At Family Romance, we strictly manage client data and thoroughly protect your privacy.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
We execute strict NDAs with all staff members. Disclosure of any information to third parties and posting on social media are strictly prohibited.
Penalties for Violations
Rigorous Information Management
- All work-related emails are deleted by the end of the assignment day
- All photos taken are deleted by the end of the assignment day
- Client personal information is deleted after service completion
- Information sharing among staff is limited to the bare minimum
For details, please see our Privacy Policy.
Peace of Mind with Full Prepayment
No post-payment disputes, transparent pricing
Family Romance uses a full prepayment system. We present an estimate in advance, and you pay only after confirming the price — so there are absolutely no surprise charges or unclear billing.
Clear Budget Management
The total cost is confirmed in advance, allowing you to plan within your budget
No Money Exchange on the Day
Enjoy our service on the day without worrying about payments
No Additional Charges
We never charge anything beyond the initial estimate
Transparent Pricing: Our estimates include a detailed breakdown showing the per-person proxy rate clearly. If the price doesn't fit your budget, we can make fine adjustments by modifying the number of staff or hours — feel free to ask.
24/7, 365 Days a Year
Feel free to contact us anytime
Family Romance accepts inquiries 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Whenever a concern arises or you have an idea, you can reach out to us at any time.
Contact Form
Available 24 hours via our website
We will respond promptly
Flexible Response to Urgent Requests
Even when an urgent situation arises unexpectedly, we will do our best to accommodate. Please don't hesitate to call or use our contact form.
The CEO Stays on the Front Lines
CEO Yuichi Ishii still actively performs proxy work today
Despite being the company's CEO, Yuichi Ishii continues to work in the field. He serves as a father figure for 23 families, standing alongside 35 children as their "Dad" in daily life.
Quality Management from Field Experience
Field-Based Guidance
Because he performs proxy work himself, his guidance to staff is specific and accurate
Client-Centric Quality Standards
Service quality standards are set with deep understanding of clients' feelings
Trust with Staff
By working alongside staff in the same role, he builds deep mutual trust
Immediate Quality Improvement
Issues identified in the field can be quickly reflected in service improvements
“Acting is Saving.”
To act is to save someone. This is the core belief behind Family Romance. By staying on the front lines, the CEO conveys this philosophy not just in words, but through actions that inspire all staff.
A Service Aiming for Client "Graduation"
"Ideally, this service shouldn't need to exist"
CEO Yuichi Ishii often says: "Ideally, this service shouldn't need to exist. If everyone had family and friends and nobody was isolated, Family Romance wouldn't be necessary."
What Family Romance ultimately aims for is the day when clients can move forward on their own — in other words, "graduation." Through our proxy services, we provide emotional support, helping clients build new relationships until they no longer need our services.
Proxy Services as Emotional Rehabilitation
A man in his 60s who had lost his wife regained "family dinners" through our family proxy service. What started as weekly sessions became monthly, and eventually he graduated, saying, "I'm okay now. Thank you."
People deeply hurt by broken relationships gradually regain the ability to trust others through safe interactions with our proxy staff. This is the essential value of Family Romance.
Toward a Society Where No One Is Isolated
In an era where loneliness and isolation have become social issues, Family Romance aims to serve not merely as a business, but as a social safety net. We will continue to stand by our clients until as many people as possible can "graduate."
Client Testimonials
“友人の大半が海外在住のため式に呼べず悩んでいました。スタッフの方が大学時代の友人役として出席してくれて、共通のエピソードまで覚えてくれていたのには驚きました。おかげで自然な雰囲気の中、最高の結婚式を挙げることができました。期待以上の結果を得られて、利用を決断した自分を褒めたい気持ちです。同じような悩みを持つ方にぜひ知ってほしいサービスです。初めは緊張しましたが、スタッフの方の温かい人柄に救われました。おかげさまで最高の結果になりました。心から感謝申し上げます。”
“息子の小学校の運動会で、お父さんと一緒に走る親子リレーがありました。シングルマザーの私にはそれが悩みの種で、毎年息子に申し訳ない気持ちでいっぱいでした。今回初めて家族電話代行で父親役をお願いしたところ、息子と一緒に全力で走ってくれて、息子の顔が本当にキラキラ輝いていました。「お父さん、速かったね！」と嬉しそうに報告する息子を見て、思わず涙が出ました。たった半日の利用でしたが、息子にとっては忘れられない大切な思い出になったと思います。このサービスがあることに心から感謝しています。”
“新商品の発表イベントを企画しましたが、招待者だけでは会場が埋まらない見込みでした。クラブイベント観客代行で50名の観客を手配してもらったところ、発表開始時には満席の状態に。プレゼンテーション中の拍手やリアクションも自然で、会場の熱気が登壇者にも伝わり、プレゼンのパフォーマンスも良くなりました。SNSに投稿された写真にも「盛況」のコメントが多く、ブランドイメージの向上にもつながりました。イベントの成功は、こうした細部の演出がカギだと実感しました。次回のイベントでも必ずお願いします。”
“マンションの騒音問題で隣人から苦情を受け、関係が悪化していました。直接話すと感情的になりそうで、近隣トラブル仲裁に謝罪の代行をお願いしました。スタッフの方は事前に防音対策の資料まで用意してくれて、私が今後どう改善するかの計画書を作成して持っていってくれました。隣人の方も「ここまでしてくれるとは思わなかった」と態度が軟化し、最終的に防音マットの設置で合意。今では隣人と普通に挨拶できる関係に戻りました。自分だけでは解決できなかった問題をプロの力で円満に解決できた経験は、大きな学びになりました。”
Free Consultation & Quote
Consultations are completely free and strictly confidential.
For urgent inquiries, please call us at {phone}.0120-949-341