
We’ve already seen a lot of “boyfriend for hire” stuff around Asia, which seems to be really into the idea of paying for romantic encounters, but until now we’ve never seen someone offering their boyish good looks and charming company for free.
Meet Dev and San, two kindhearted Indian models working as freelance “idols” – a popular term in Asia for models you can hire for a variety of situations – for the low, low price of absolutely nothing.
Of course, like all things that sound too good to be true, Dev and San – while clearly real, actual human beings – are just doing this as part of a marketing stunt for language school Misao Language Institute.
Modeled after Mika and Rika, two free idols who are not doing it sarcastically but probably are playing a long game with the goal of one day becoming paid models, the Dev and San gag falls somewhere in the middle of the incongruous triangle of adorable, hilarious and kind of racist.

Misao says anyone is free to employ any of a huge stable of images of Dev and San posing by simply applying with this online form. All comers are free to use the images in any medium, as many times as they want. Unfortunately, as of this writing, you’re not able to meet Dev and San in the flesh – the better to possibly rescue them from what appears to be indentured servitude, or whatever, just hang out, since they seem like pretty fun-loving guys – but hey, you can at least get some pretty decent stock photos out of them!























China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Coming of Age Day costumer turns our 40-year-old reporter into a glammed up, garish Yankee【Pics】
Salmon-flavored Puccho candy – disgusting or delightful? 【Taste test】
Is there demand for merch of our stylish reporter? Let’s find out with the Ikuna Acrylic Standee
McKatsudon: Easy to make with new spicy chicken nuggets from McDonald’s Japan
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning seems to be affecting Osaka’s Namba and Dotonbori neighborhoods
Coming of Age Day costumer turns our 40-year-old reporter into a glammed up, garish Yankee【Pics】
Salmon-flavored Puccho candy – disgusting or delightful? 【Taste test】
Is there demand for merch of our stylish reporter? Let’s find out with the Ikuna Acrylic Standee
McKatsudon: Easy to make with new spicy chicken nuggets from McDonald’s Japan
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
Do Hi-Chew-flavor Hi-Chews have a reason to exist?【Taste test】
Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
Tokyo store that only sells black shirts sheds light on why it’s opening mid-pandemic
Japanese convenience store chain has beer and sake dispensers that few people know about
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Yoshinoya adds first-ever chain-wide ramen with new beef and pork-broth noodle hot pot meals
Japan considering raising international traveler departure tax even more than previously reported
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Shibuya’s Don Quijote?
Studio Ghibli stamps lift your spirits with motivational phrases from Totoro
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowd sizes in Nara?
Japanese train company is letting fans buy its actual ticket gates for their homes
Japanese town suing resident for being a jerk
New fish discovered and named “Vanderhorstia supersaiyan” for obvious reasons
Starbucks Japan unveils new Christmas goods and a rhinestone tumbler that costs 19,500 yen
Real-world Nausicaa Ghibli anime glider completes its final flight in Japan【Video】
Brand-new Pokémon park opens in Japan with larger-than-life-size Lapras【Photos】
Unique inclined elevator in Japan leads to a town that inspired Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting tourist crowds in Tokyo’s Asakusa neighborhood?
The 10 best day trips from downtown Tokyo【Survey】
Naturally brown-haired Osaka student sues government for forcing her to dye her hair black
Japanese government considering tripling departure taxes to combat overtourism
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
The top 10 annoying foreign tourist behaviors on trains, as chosen by Japanese people【Survey】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Popular Japanese ramen restaurant Ichiran’s lucky bags are great value for money
Do Hi-Chew-flavor Hi-Chews have a reason to exist?【Taste test】
Chinese government’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning has heartwarming non-effect on Yokohama Chinatown
Tokyo store that only sells black shirts sheds light on why it’s opening mid-pandemic
Japanese convenience store chain has beer and sake dispensers that few people know about
Super-cheap, super-convenient rice-cooking mug is a new kitchen gadget all-star from 3 Coins
Japanese clothing chain offers an answer to job-hunting suit conundrum
Japan super budget dining – What’s the best way to spend 1,000 yen at 7-Eleven?
KFC Japan opens a Christmas restaurant in Tokyo…but why???
We tried out three types of men’s boxer briefs from Daiso, and one of them left us speechless
These posters from the Taisho and Showa Eras are simply gorgeous!
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Leave a Reply