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Jul 12, 2025

Rent-a-grandma - the answer to expat loneliness?

I saw a post today when I was scrolling on X/Twitter today, and it was about a company called OK Obaachan. Basically, it's a rent-a-grandma service, where these grannies will do anything from teach you how to cook to offer some pearls of wisdom, or help you with cleaning up around the house.

Rent-a-grandma - the answer to expat loneliness? photo

Image created via Canva


I personally can see the benefit of this in so many ways, especially from an expat perspective! Many of us live here away from our families, and may not have a Japanese spouse to have married into an in-law family dynamic, either. Having help with things like house chores, a delicious home-cooked meal on busy days, or even the kind of advice that only comes with age and experience would be so nice! I think having that elder family dynamic would also help with a lot of the loneliness that expats experience. 


If you had the option for a "rent-a-grandma" service here, what would you be asking for help with?

genkidesu

genkidesu

Love to travel, interested in J-beauty products and consider myself a convenience store snack aficionado. Navigating the ever-present challenges of expat life, particularly about my TCK's (third culture kids).


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