Nice to meet you.

Ask what they’re interested in, then look it up online, read books about it, or try experiencing it yourself.

I don’t know—I’ve almost never experienced running out of things to talk about. I do find conversation difficult with men at lounges who clearly don’t seem to be my type and don’t appear interested in my personality either. But in papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan), you already know the other person likes you, basically speaking—whether from the initial offer or because you have an adult relationship (intimate)—so I think any positive topic is fine. You could talk about your work, your family, papa’s past, or things you’d like to try in the future… You can also ask for advice if you’re having trouble at work, or talk about trends among young people, papa’s favorite music, your own favorite music, favorite foods, or memorable stories from past trips. I think the possibilities are endless. You could also go see a movie or visit a museum together and talk about your impressions afterward. If you really can’t think of anything, you could ask in a cute way, like, “You don’t really enjoy talking, do you, [name]?” The key is to be endearing. Good luck!

If you’re looking for something you can talk about regardless of age, dirty jokes might be the obvious choice—but I’m not sure that would be all that enjoyable either. So how about simply gazing at your partner when you run out of things to say? If they ask, “What is it?” you can just say, “I wanted to look at you.” Since you’re dating, it’s not exactly having a conversation with your eyes, but I feel like it could help create a sense of closeness between the two of you. I also think it’s best to find some common interests early on. There has to be something.