According to Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, there are 9.1 million workers aged 65 or older. That means 1 in 4 seniors are still in the workforce, looking for extra income to supplement their pensions. This is particularly hard for older women, many of whom don’t have a college degree or work experience. To support these seniors, Client Partners — a company that finds job opportunities for women — has set up “OK Obaachan,” which means “OK Granny,” and allows people to rent a grandma for an hourly fee. OK Obaachan is made up of about 100 women aged 60 to 94. All women need to do to join is bring with them the wisdom they’ve accumulated over their life. As for why people rent a grandma, the most common reason is to learn how to do chores. Others rent a grandma just to have someone listen to them, many asking for advice on things like getting along with relatives or how to break up with someone. The grandmas also lend their elegant penmanship to write things by hand, cook hearty homemade meals, and can even be hired to knit or sew a garment. They’re open to more random tasks as well. For example, they can mediate family disputes and teach new mothers how to raise a child. Rent-a-grandmas have been asked to attend weddings, and one was even hired to cheer for a child at a sporting event, as well as taking a video of him. Grandmas offer their services for a ¥3,300 ($22.48) per hour rate, plus an additional ¥3,300 to cover transportation, though that’s subject to the location, time and tasks. The fees are non-negotiable, and the hourly wage won’t be lowered just because they are seniors, out of respect for their experience and abilities. While applications are open, not everyone can be an OK Obaachan. Client Partners says the perfect grandma is kind, committed, hardworking, and cares about the feelings of others. For many of the women who work as rent-a-grandmas, they say they have found purpose in later life, and that is priceless.
