I’m Joe, a columnist and male member.
It’s been nearly two years since I joined, so my memory is a little hazy, but I don’t recall being told about giving the transportation allowance in advance when I signed up. At the time, I received a sheet titled “A Message from the Club,” which contained various tips and cautions about these relationships. It did say not to forget to give the transportation allowance, but there was no mention of giving it in advance (though that may have changed by now).
On the other hand, as Maezawa-san pointed out, the male members’ website clearly states under “Important Notes and Requests” that the allowance should be given in advance. This makes me wonder whether the explanation about advance payment may not be communicated consistently.
In any case, considering that many female members apparently prefer to receive the allowance upfront and that transportation-allowance disputes seem to occur frequently, my personal opinion is that, while the club should certainly make the policy clear and enforce it thoroughly, male members should also take the initiative and cooperate by paying upfront to help ease women’s concerns.
Maezawa here.
> Is giving the transportation money in advance an official rule?
Yes, it is.
Our staff explain it clearly when men join, and it’s also stated in the membership terms for male members.
You can find the terms here:
https://universe-club.jp/men/membershippolicy/
Under the section titled “Dates and Relationships,” it says:
“On every date, please provide the transportation money in advance (¥5,000–¥10,000 as a thank-you for the date).”
There are also a few other rules that don’t seem to be followed very often, such as:
“Trying to force someone to leave the club or quit their job”
(For example, saying, “I like you, so why don’t you quit the club?” is prohibited.)
“Sharing information learned through the club with a third party, including female members”
(For example, saying, “Your rank is ○○,” or “Your profile looks like this,” is prohibited.)
These are also prohibited actions, and the terms state:
“Anyone found to have engaged in any of the following actions will be expelled from the club, and the membership fee cannot be refunded.”
> If paying in advance is the rule, I’d like to see it enforced more strictly.
We can’t determine whether the money was given in advance unless a woman reports it.
Please send us your feedback after the date and mention that the transportation money was given after the meal. That way, the club will be able to keep track of it.
