I signed up here because I’m thinking about doing papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) with an adult relationship (intimate). How much money do you generally need to pay for that?

In your 30s, you’re at an age when women in their 20s may also see you as someone they’d like to date or even marry. If you give them money, you can probably enjoy yourself without a care in the world. That said, spending the most energetic and valuable years of your life on something like this could also be seen as a waste or a loss. You could choose to enjoy things you’ll still be able to do when you’re older first, but… Romance and relationships without an allowance become more difficult as you age, so I think it’s worth considering that carefully as well. There’s something truly valuable about doing the things you can only do now—especially when you’re young.

Thanks for the question. Maezawa here, answering as well. papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) and prostitution are different, so the club doesn’t keep track of how much support is expected in a free romantic relationship. Once you’ve gotten to know the woman, you should be able to discuss things like how much support she would need, so start by talking it over with her. That’s why, with dates arranged through the club, the first meeting is supposed to be over a meal. If you treat that meal casually or disrespectfully, the woman may decline to see you again. So before the date, you should think carefully about what it means to be a gentleman under the club’s rules. That means dressing neatly, keeping the conversation enjoyable for her, choosing a restaurant she’ll appreciate, and treating the staff courteously—in other words, showing the same consideration you would on a normal date. Women have the right to choose as well, and they’re free to turn down a man’s offer. That said, if you’re unsure how much money to have on hand, I think having around ¥200,000 in your wallet should be enough for most women. Incidentally, if you ask an experienced woman out for your first date, she may actually teach you a lot. Some men may not want to deal with a woman who’s practically a semi-professional, but I feel that having a woman show you the ropes at first can significantly improve your chances of success afterward. Her allowance will probably be on the higher side—likely in the six-figure range—but if you approach the date intending to learn the basics of dating clubs, it may be worth more than that when you consider what comes afterward. As for which women are experienced, the staff may be able to tell you. However, they may also avoid taking responsibility and simply tell you to find someone you personally like.

It sounds like you may have a special reason for joining, but it’s worth doing some research. I’ve heard that some dating clubs will even give you guidelines when you’re unsure, so you might want to use those as a reference. Also, since women can choose whether or not to date a particular man, I think it’s a good opportunity to see how you’re perceived. In my case as well, the men at dating clubs tend to be older, so if you’re in your 30s, you could be very popular depending on the allowance.

Wouldn’t it depend on the woman? There’s no set rule that a higher class always means a higher allowance.

A dating club isn’t a prostitution service, so the terms of the relationship should be discussed and agreed upon with the woman.