These Japan Weeping Boys Will Give You a Shoulder to Cry On

Who wouldn’t want to be comforted by a handsome man while crying? While that may sound like an unachievable daydream, it is an actual service provided in Japan. Yes, really! A Japanese company is offering a service where beautiful, handsome men will come to you and wipe away your tears when you are sad. These are known as the Japan weeping boys and they are there to help you out when you are in need.

The Japan Weeping Boys Service

In Japan, entrepreneur Hiroki Terai has turned the belief in the therapeutic benefits of crying into a business strategy. He founded a group crying service called rui-katsu. People, especially women, gather to cry together while a “handsome weeping boy” wipes their tears away. This practice believed to alleviate stress, is explored in the short film “Crying with the Handsome Man” by filmmaker Darryl Thoms. He delves into why Terai thinks it brings people together.

How the Company Was Established

Australian-born photographer Darryl Thoms embarked on his career in Tokyo at the youthful age of 21. He was characterized by a sense of naivety, wide-eyed wonder, and an insatiable fascination with all things quirky and unusual. His intrigue peaked when he stumbled upon a satirical article detailing the operations of a company called Ikemeso Takkyubin. This was known as the Tear Couriers, which specialized in sending handsome men to comfort crying Japanese women.

Intrigued by this unusual concept, Thoms delved deeper into the situation. He managed to track down the mastermind behind it all, Hiroki Terai. To his surprise, Terai was not just the founder of Ikemeso Takkyubin. He was also an accomplished businessman and author with 11 published books to his name. Notably, one of his works titled “Ikemeso Danshi” showcased captivating images of attractive men shedding tears. This added an intriguing layer to the multifaceted entrepreneur’s portfolio. Thoms’s journey into the world of tear couriers unfolded. He was guided by the discovery of a satirical article.

Japan Weeping Boys Say Crying Is More Than Normal

The practice of group crying, as facilitated by entrepreneur Hiroki Terai in Japan, may seem unconventional in Western societies where the expression of sadness or anger is generally accepted. However, in many cultures worldwide, displaying such emotions is considered taboo, particularly within the context of rites of passage into manhood, where emotions are often expected to be suppressed or eradicated.

Terai emphasizes the importance of the weeping ceremony in Japanese culture, citing various examples such as tea pouring, flower arranging, and traditional practices like samurai and karate training. According to filmmaker Darryl Thoms, who explored Terai’s venture, ceremony plays a crucial role in programming the mind and making it receptive to change. Terai notes that, just as there is a ceremony marking the union in marriage, the absence of one in the dissolution of a marriage can leave individuals feeling lost without a sense of completion.

Would you ever pay for a service like this?

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