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  • Loneliness is a problem in modern Japan.

  • In fact, there are companies throughout Japan

  • that provide fake families for people who are lonely.

  • I'm not making this up.

  • And I thought, why don't I get a fake family

  • while I'm here, in Tokyo?

  • I have now been in Japan

  • for two days.

  • Mm hmm.

  • And I am very lonely.

  • (laughing)

  • I have two children who show me very little respect.

  • Oh.

  • And I have a wife who is tired of my jokes.

  • (laughing)

  • My father and I get along pretty well,

  • but I honestly think I could do better.

  • I would like a new father

  • that would apologize for some things that happened

  • between us in the 1970's.

  • Specifically, when he lost his temper

  • in the kitchen

  • because I spilled

  • a bowl of creamed corn.

  • And then he didn't let me watch The Love Boat that night.

  • And I'm told it was a very good episode.

  • Yeah.

  • Bea Arthur was on it from the Golden Girls.

  • She's a divorcee

  • who meets a man who she's interesting in

  • and it turns out that he's a scam artist.

  • He's played by Harvey Korman.

  • Quick question.

  • The wife,

  • what are the boundaries with this

  • woman that I choose?

  • Oh, hug and shake the hands, but no kissing?

  • So, just like my current marriage?

  • Wife? Yes.

  • She looks very beautiful.

  • Thank you.

  • May I ask how old she is?

  • Oh, 48?

  • Okay.

  • It is close to my own age.

  • Mm hmm.

  • So, this is a no.

  • (laughing)

  • Yes, I'm from Los Angeles,

  • and a man my age is required by law

  • to marry a woman who's 25.

  • This is a possible son.

  • How old is he?

  • 35? (laughing)

  • I don't have a, I could not have a son who is 35.

  • (laughing) Sorry.

  • No, he's too old to be my son, and also I'm worried

  • my fake son is gonna run away with my fake wife.

  • Who is this?

  • How old is she?

  • That's very good.

  • I think she has a good sense of humor.

  • Do you have any father candidates?

  • Oh my god.

  • I feel like I've already disappointed him.

  • Oh.

  • Hey wait a minute, now we're talking.

  • Look at him, he looks pleasant.

  • Good guy?

  • Square, I like that.

  • My father, my wife, and my daughter.

  • And they will be my family while I'm in Japan?

  • Mm hm.

  • If I'm really enjoying my fake family,

  • what's the maximum amount of time

  • I can retain their services?

  • Three years?

  • I could have them for three years?

  • You don't need to check with her, she's 12!

  • (laughing)

  • My current family won't give me three more years.

  • Also, one more question.

  • Is it possible for me to rent someone

  • who could pretend to be a bully

  • who was mean to me in high school

  • and I can beat the shit out of him?

  • You're the most impressive person

  • I've met in my entire life.

  • (laughing)

  • I bow to you, I honor you.

  • Okay, I swear to god this is real.

  • I left Family Romance

  • about an hour and 20 minutes ago.

  • I am back in my hotel room in Tokyo,

  • and I have a family.

  • This is

  • incredible.

  • The wife, my daughter.

  • I am now your father.

  • And she thinks I'm the coolest dad in the world.

  • Okay, yeah.

  • Another thing that's important to me

  • is that I am very funny.

  • When I tell a joke,

  • I would like it if you all really laughed

  • and thought it was funny.

  • Could you explain to them?

  • Could you do that?

  • Could you laugh if I tell a joke?

  • Okay let me ask you a question.

  • Do you guys like ramen?

  • Yes we do.

  • Not me, I like my men cooked.

  • Please tell them to laugh.

  • (laughing)

  • This is so much better.

  • So you're all down for the tree year deal, three years?

  • (laughing)

  • Not everything's a joke.

  • (laughing)

  • Okay, I'm worried now that if I tell her,

  • oh I just came back from the doctor

  • and I only have a year to live.

  • (laughing)

  • Awful.

  • Dad, nice to meet you.

  • How are you?

  • Fine, thank you.

  • Maybe you can begin by apologizing.

  • Just say I was wrong to yell at you in the 70's.

  • I was wrong in the 70's.

  • You were wrong in the 70's, right.

  • Yeah, 1978 when I spilled the creamed corn,

  • you say I was wrong, I apologize.

  • I am sorry about the creamed corn.

  • (laughing)

  • Dad, come here.

  • Come on.

  • That's fantastic.

  • It would mean a lot to me if you said

  • I like you more than your brothers.

  • I like you more than your brothers.

  • Yes, I'm the best one, right?

  • Yes of course.

  • You are my favorite son.

  • Yes!

  • Again hugging, I like the hugging.

  • I've now hugged you more than I've hugged my real father.

  • You guys wanna go see Tokyo?

  • Yay!

  • (playful music)

Loneliness is a problem in modern Japan.

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