It’s the wedding season in Japan but instead of opting for a small event in tough times, couples can rent fake family, friends and colleagues to plump up the guest list.

Many in Japan see weddings as a formal event that must be attended by as many family members, friends and co-workers as possible. At the party, bosses often give speeches, colleagues or friends stage performances, and families greet other guests.

But what if you’ve got no one to do that for you?

“We’ll attend the wedding as your friend instead of your friend,” Hiroshi Mizutani, who heads Office Agents in Tokyo, a company that rents out guests, told Reuters. (Reuters)

Wow! What a concept!

At one wedding, all 30 of the family, friends and coworkers of the groom were fakes, Mizutani said.

Wait a minute, we already do that here. This isn’t new, other than someone’s making money on it.

It even offers fake lovers to introduce to your family and stand-in secretaries for those that want to look important.

The key qualification for Office Agents’ staff is that they do not stand out.

“What’s important is that these are normal people… normal as in they are cheery and clean and look like they have regular jobs,” Mizutani said.

Sad commentary on our plight.

Shame that we can’t have a real life…