For an author to say that his protagonist is
almost a double of himself is not uncommon. That he says it about the
protagonist of Rent-a-Girlfriend, a series that starts with a guy
paying for a temporary girlfriend, already has a little more weight. In a
recent interview, the creator of the series talked about how much he recognizes
himself in Kazuya Kinoshita, describing him as someone who thinks
much like himself.
The author explained that he chose Kazuya as
the protagonist because he represents something that he considers brave in the
current context: the desire for a genuine and deep connection with a single
person, in a world where social networks often turn relationships into something
superficial and disposable. According to him, that kind of determination stands
out precisely because of how rare it has become.
He also spoke about urban loneliness as a
thematic engine of the story. In large cities like Tokyo, he noted, people can
live side by side and still feel completely disconnected, with weak ties both
between neighbors and in romantic situations. The premise of the bride for hire
works as a mirror of that search for quick connection that characterizes much
of modern life, but the series is more interested in exploring the difference
between those superficial interactions and something more real and enduring.
Regarding his own relationship with the character, the author was direct: Kazuya, he said, is the character closest to him personally, almost like a double where what he thinks, Kazuya thinks in a similar way. He expresses his own ideas and experiences through the character, and hearing from readers that they find the story funny and relatable affects him emotionally.
He also reflected on how difficult it is to truly know what another person feels, even when two people become close. The "rental" structure in the story functions as a way of thinking about that uncertainty. Despite the painful and complicated aspects of falling in love, its overall message is one of encouragement: it's worth continuing to try to love and connect, even when things get tough. It hopes readers will find some courage by following Kazuya's journey.
About Rent-a-Girlfriend
Rent-a-Girlfriend (Kanojo, Okarishimasu) is a manga that began
publication in 2017 and recently reached its forty-sixth compiled
volume in June 2026. The story follows Kazuya Kinoshita, a
college student who, after being dumped by his girlfriend, turns to a dating
service where you can pay for the company of a temporary girlfriend. His
encounter with Chizuru through that service begins a
relationship that, although it begins as a fake arrangement, becomes
complicated as real feelings appear. The series combines comedy with more
serious moments about love, trust and personal growth, and its anime adaptation
is still active with the broadcast of new episodes of its fifth season in
2026.
