Something my parent said has been bothering me:

From a club’s perspective, that would be considered quite old. Personally, once a woman turns 25 or 26, I think the chances of receiving offers become almost zero. At the moment, you can set the search age to 26 or 27 and browse the female members. Also, since there aren’t many female members over 30, being registered as one of them gives you more value and makes it a good niche to target.

When I was in my thirties, I didn’t think of myself as an old guy, but when I see a woman in her thirties, I feel like teasing her by calling her an old lady. Just kidding, though. In other words, I don’t think being around thirty makes you an old lady. It just means you’ve entered the zone where people start teasing you.

I think you should be worried. Age won’t wait for you. Even if you want to get married, it’s not something that happens right away—and if you want to show him your children, you can’t do that immediately either.

Anti-aging has come a long way these days, so I think there are more people who look youthful, depending on the person. What your parents said may sound old-fashioned, but it’s true that if the questioner has female friends their age or female coworkers, they’ll probably see more of them rushing to get married before turning 30. From the time my monthly arrangement partner was 28 to 30, she had a lot of weddings to attend and once told me it was tough because she wanted to see me more often（笑） Sorry for bragging, but my monthly arrangement partner is already over 30, and she’s only become more beautiful. The adult side of things is amazing too, and our physical chemistry is even better than with women in their 20s—she’s the best. She has a cool personality, and we don’t spend very long together when we meet, but the adult side of things is so good that I can’t let her go. If that’s how you feel, you can look for a marriage partner, show your parents their grandchild, and then come back here afterward. I don’t think you need to rush.

Compared with the past, I suppose people would say that not being married by 30 is unusual, but it varies depending on the era and the region. Is everyone around you married and raising children? In Tokyo, having a child in your late 30s is perfectly normal. Some people also choose not to marry or have children. I hear Kasumi Arimura is turning 30 this year. Is she an “old lady”? Whether you start seeming like an old lady is up to you. Marika

Hey! Nice to meet you. I’m Potassium, a female member the same age as you. I consider women in their thirties to be “old ladies.” Actually, I deliberately make myself think of them that way. It’s not that I look like an old lady. But if I’m 28 on the inside, I feel I need to be mature enough—as an adult—to be called one. So what I’m striving to become right now is: Look like I’m in my twenties, but be an old lady on the inside—or, better yet, a hermit sage! Sadly, I think that once you start looking like an old lady, your chances of meeting a wonderful man go down. But for now, I want to advance my career and enjoy myself a little longer, so I’m not thinking about marriage or children yet. If I ever want children and worry that I won’t have healthy eggs left, I can consider freezing my eggs, even if it costs money. (I suppose papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) could help pay for that too, haha.) And if I still can’t have children, I can make up my mind to become a foster parent. I’m not attached to having children with my own genes. This isn’t a life meant to be lived for my parents. But I believe I should show them appreciation—without sacrificing myself—so that when they pass away, I won’t be left with regrets. So, if I don’t want to get married or have children right now, I should prepare myself to be able to respond when I do feel that way in the future. That’s what I think a 28-year-old “old lady” should be thinking about. You know, like that thing: The appearance of a child (in her twenties), the mind of an adult (an old lady)— her name is… whatever. That’s what a 28-year-old should become. So yes, 28-year-olds are old ladies! By the way, if someone genuinely looks like an old lady but is immature on the inside, they’d probably be classified as a nuisance of an old person. Just my personal theory.

No. But asking a question like that is so typical of someone nearing 30. At 28, you’re still in the morning of your life. There’s plenty to do before lunchtime. Of course, choosing to get married and have children isn’t a bad option—but don’t do it for your parents! Pull yourself together!

I consider 40 to be “middle-aged,” so I guess 40 would be “middle-aged” for women too. Marriage isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. You’re not living for your parents. As long as you’re enjoying your life, that’s what matters. Life actually gets more enjoyable, with fewer worries, once you reach middle age.