A Japanese company has introduced an innovative online counseling service featuring "virtual grandmas," allowing users to seek advice from experienced senior women for 3,000 yen (approximately HK$158) per hour.
The service, launched by Hiroshima-based OTAGROUP, recruits women aged 75 and older to provide online consultations via platforms like Zoom or Google Meet. When users book a session, the company selects a suitable senior counselor based on the nature of the inquiry. During the session, the senior appears on-screen as a 3D-animated avatar.
This initiative expands upon OTAGROUP's existing "Meta Grandma" (メタばあちゃん) channel, a platform where elderly women, transformed into anime-style characters, share their life experiences.
In addition to online counseling, these "virtual grandmas" are available for other tasks, including roles as extras in movies or other offline activities.
OTAGROUP explained that the concept stems from their experience running the "Meta Grandma" channel: "We realized that being relied upon by others energizes older adults. This service aims to create opportunities for seniors to feel valued while simultaneously helping urban youth solve their problems."
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