I’d like to make a request. I’m a female member.

I’m a lost 60-something. > Turn on your phone’s recording function before you talk, so you have evidence. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to do at least that much. It’s unfortunate that, despite always treating women sincerely, you’re being put through something like this because of one strange man. After going this far, continuing with the club’s activities seems ridiculous… I’m starting to feel like quitting the club…

Maezawa from the President’s Office here. As you said, it’s best for the man to explain the terms of the arrangement and other details. However, from what I’ve heard, there seem to be men who say things like, “Don’t tell the club!” (We have no way of knowing about these incidents because they haven’t been reported to the club.) In that case, even if we make it a rule, I feel there’s a possibility that nothing will change. (Travel expenses for the first meeting are already supposed to be paid in advance, but apparently some people don’t follow that rule either.) That would unfortunately make things difficult for women, but I think it’s necessary to protect yourselves. For example, all the women could cooperate by making sure to report anything like this to the club every single time. I think that would be the best approach. Whenever there’s a problem, we listen to both the man’s and the woman’s side of the story. That’s because it’s risky to believe only one side. If their accounts don’t match, the club may not be able to do anything. But if multiple women report similar experiences, then even if the man is lying, we can believe the women’s side. That’s why I’d really appreciate it if you could report these incidents to the club properly. Also, when discussing the allowance, you could turn on your phone’s recording function beforehand and keep a record as evidence. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to do at least that much. If you have evidence, the club won’t have to say, “This man has no history of complaints like that…” > So I felt it would be good if there were some way to make it easier for women to ask for advice, even just a little. If you’ve contacted the club but they didn’t really listen or offer much support, please reach out to Maezawa through the form below: https://universe-club.jp/help/contact/ > There are also many good men out there, so I hope the other women can continue with hope. I completely agree.

I’m Saito, the column writer♪ I think the questioner makes a very valid point. That said, I can understand standardizing transportation expenses, but when it comes to the relationship afterward, wouldn’t getting involved in payment methods risk being considered facilitating prostitution and therefore be prohibited? I’m not entirely sure where the line is drawn in that regard, though… The more these originally gray-area dating clubs become casual, the more certain discrepancies are bound to arise. People who wouldn’t have even been allowed to register in the past—both women and men—are joining now that these clubs have become more widely recognized. I feel like I caught a glimpse of both the benefits and the drawbacks.

I’m だて◎ゆめ, a male member. The fact that stories like this come up from time to time probably means that some pretty unbelievable things are occasionally happening. My understanding is that the club’s responsibility extends only as far as making the introduction, so it’s important for the two people involved to clearly confirm the terms of the arrangement between themselves. That said, since these can be difficult topics for a papa and a young woman to discuss, I think it may be better for the papa to bite the bullet and bring them up early on, when they first meet. (I imagine most papas are the ones who initiate this conversation, but if that’s not the case, it would probably be wiser to respond by asking questions—for example, if the young woman is the one who brings it up.) If a hit-and-run case occurs, it should be reported to the club immediately. If the same thing happens twice, I imagine the club would consider some form of action, such as recommending that the member be forcibly expelled. Cases like this are very interesting, much like “type scam” cases. (Though if I said that, the young women would probably scold me. 😢)