TOKYO — In Japan, a man named Shintaro Kobayashi helps people writes love letters for other people. He runs a “love letter ghostwriting” service, meaning he writes letters for people who find it hard to share their feelings with someone special.
Kobayashi, 47, started the service 12 years ago. He got the idea because, as a child, he once got a love note in his school shoe locker. It made him very happy, and he never forgot the feeling. Later, he wanted to help others share their emotions, so he began writing letters for them.
People ask Kobayashi to write letters for many reasons. Some want to say “I love you” to a first love or a partner. Others want to say sorry, thank you or even send a letter to themselves. Some people feel shy or struggle to put their emotions into words.
When someone asks for help, Kobayashi talks with them to learn about their feelings and the person they want to reach. He then writes a letter and sends it to the client. The client copies it in their own handwriting and sends it to their recipient. “Handwriting is unique to each person,” Kobayashi said.
He charges 10,000 yen (about $64) per letter. Most of his clients are in their 30s, but people from their teens to their 80s have used his service. About 60% are men and 40% are women.
Kobayashi said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, more people want to write letters to say thank you or sorry to someone from their past. He believes writing a letter can help people feel better and move forward.
“Please express your feelings,” he said.
(Japanese original by Akiko Yamazaki, Digital News Group)
Vocabulary
ghostwriting: writing something for another person under their name
