Got hired to "tutor English" to a businessman. ¥5,000/hour. Great rate. First session: We met at a café. Him: I don't need English lessons. Me: Then... why am I here? Him: I need you to attend meetings and nod. Me: What? Him: My boss thinks I'm learning English. You're my proof. Me: That's fraud. Him: That's ¥5,000/hour. In or out? Me: morally conflicted for 4 seconds In. Week 3: The meetings got weirder. Him: Today you need to pretend to teach me business phrases. Me: In front of who? Him: My entire department. Me: WHAT?! I taught him "synergy" and "circle back" in front of 12 people. They applauded. Month 2: His boss wanted a progress report. Boss: How's his English? Me: Uh... improving? Boss: Can he do a presentation? Me: A what? Boss: In English. Next week. Him: texting me under the table, HELP ME. Week later: I WROTE his entire presentation. He memorized it phonetically. Delivered it perfectly. His boss cried. Boss: I'm so proud of you! Him: bowing, Thank you! To me, in English: "Thank you for believing in me." His pronunciation was terrible but his boss didn't speak English so it didn't matter. Month 4: He got promoted for his "English skills." Him: I need you at MORE meetings now. Me: This is out of control! Him: ¥7,000/hour. Me: Deal. Month 8: His company sent him to New York for a conference. Him: You're coming with me. Me: AS WHAT?! Him: My translator. Me: YOU'RE JAPANESE, THEY'LL EXPECT YOU TO SPEAK ENGLISH! Him: That's why you're coming! We went to New York. I had to "translate" his Japanese into English for Americans. American client: Why does he need a translator? We speak English. Me: He's... more comfortable this way. Client: Okay...? Present day: He's now a executive at his company. Still can't speak English. I'm on retainer for ¥15,000/hour. Last month he asked: "Can you teach my son?" His son is 6. Me: He actually wants to LEARN English, right? Him: God, I hope not. I need him to hire you in 20 years. It's a multi-generational scam and I'm IN IT.