For Rent: 'Cheery, Clean' Fake Friends

Why bother making friends when you can rent them? A Tokyo-based company allows you to do just that, hiring out fake friends for any occasion, even the happiest day of your life. Need to pad your wedding guest list? The rent-a-friend will attend for just $200; for an extra $100, he’ll even make a nice speech.

The recession has helped the service gain even more popularity as unemployed people hire surrogate bosses or co-workers. The service will also provide facsimile paramours, secretaries, and even relatives. “They are cheery and clean,” said the rental agency's head honcho, “and look like they have regular jobs.” (More Japan stories.)