I’m going in for an interview.

You can simply say both: “I’m interested in older men,” and “My family situation is difficult, I need money, and I’m worried about the future.” You call it a “lie,” but there’s a saying: “Truth can come from a lie.” Nothing is an absolute lie, and there’s also such a thing as “don’t knock it till you’ve tried it”—you might unexpectedly find yourself drawn to older men. Words are just labels. Since they can be stuck onto anything, you shouldn’t take them at face value. Especially when it comes to young women, keep in mind that you can’t even fully trust their own words. What matters isn’t the label but what’s inside the bottle—and those of us with more life experience know how to tell the difference, so there’s no need to worry.

Just based on my own experience, there seem to be more male members who want to meet, so I think it’s better if you’re interested in older men.

Male members want honest information so they can make informed decisions. That’s why I genuinely think the staff should tell the truth as well. That said, if we focus specifically on what would benefit you, I don’t think telling the whole truth about absolutely everything is always the best approach. For example, product catalogs only highlight the good points. There are bound to be drawbacks and potential issues, but they generally focus on the positives. Salespeople often mention the disadvantages too, but in the end, they emphasize the benefits. With that in mind, I think it’s better to come up with a certain strategy before going in. That said, lying is more likely to get exposed, so it isn’t easy. Still, when it comes to this particular question, the answer is fairly simple. “ I need money, and I’m worried about the future, so I want to earn some.” Most women register with those feelings to some extent, and men understand that too. (Occasionally, you’ll encounter men who don’t get it and say strange things like, “If you really liked me, you wouldn’t need an allowance, right?” or “Since this is free love, you don’t need an allowance, right?” Those men don’t understand dating clubs, so report them.) So the question is: do you really need to go out of your way to say the obvious—that you want money? No matter how you dress it up, everyone knows perfectly well that you registered because you want money. That’s why finding a graceful way to express it can come across as more refined. For example: “I’m interested in older men.” — Don’t say this if you have no interest at all, but if you’re even slightly interested, I think it’s fine to say. You could also say things like: “I’d like to learn about a world I don’t know.” “I’d like to find someone who will support me.” Rather than lying, I think it’s better to phrase things differently while staying within the bounds of the truth. In any case, the staff already know that money is your main motivation. They simply want to hear something more than that. As for your family circumstances, rather than telling the staff, I think it’s better to bring them up—without making things too heavy—with a man you’ve met several times and who seems likely to continue seeing you.

I think a little embellishment is fine, as long as it isn’t too extreme. That said, I do think you should stop claiming to be interested in men when you have absolutely no interest in older men. One of the women I’ve supported was a student who said she wanted help paying for cram school so she could get a job. Even after finding employment, starting work, and gaining some financial breathing room, she now says she needs money for beauty expenses or just wants a little extra spending money（笑） I’ve basically just gone along with it, saying, “Well, I guess it’s fine,” and there’s still no sign of it ending（笑）

The latter is probably better. After all, money is the woman’s primary goal, so that should be made clear.

Personally, I don’t like dealing with women who tell those crafty little lies, so I have a much better impression of women who are upfront about the truth. You can usually tell when someone is being deceptively clever, and once I realize that’s the kind of person they are, I stop trusting anything they say, which makes continuing the arrangement a hassle.

You actually seem to have a pretty good understanding of things. Your profile and your real self—how much you can act the part included—isn’t that basically self-promotion? If you want more offers, how do you think you can appeal to the feelings of the papas who do papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan)? If you try too hard or overdo it, people will see through you, so finding the right balance is important too. Here are some examples of things I consider ◎ and × in interviews and profiles, along with ways to rephrase them: “I like older men.” ◎ “I’ve dated men in their 40s before.” ◎, etc. → There are plenty of men who prefer younger women, after all. Personally, comments like these make me feel more hopeful and more inclined to make an offer. × “My home environment is terrible.” Rephrased: “I want to move out and live on my own as soon as possible.” × “I don’t have any money.” Rephrased: “My salary is low, and I’d like to spend a little more on beauty and self-care.” In general, try to avoid overly negative wording. Think about answers and profile details that resonate with papas without going overboard. The examples above are just examples, so come up with wording that suits you and stays within a range you’re comfortable with. If you go into your interview prepared, I think you’ll be able to enjoy a good papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) experience.