The Matchbreakers: The Scammy World of Japan’s Break-up Artists

They say they can get you the love of your life — even if they’re dating someone else, or even married. Enter the morally dubious world of the wakaresaseya.

By Jay Allen

In Japan, it seems like there’s a service for everything. You can even rent a family if you need.

But one service not only seems to cross an ethical line — it often crosses legal ones. Meet the wakaresaseya (別れさせ屋) — Japan’s “break up” companies — who promise to destroy another person’s happiness so you can find yours. It might not shock you to learn that such companies aren’t just gross; in many cases, they’re outright scams.

Happiness at the expense of someone else’s misery

Picture: metamorworks / PIXTA(ピクスタ)

When I first caught a whiff of this story, I thought the description of the business rang a bell. It turns out it did because I’ve written about them before — all the way back in Unseen Japan’s first year.