Takita here.
Nice to meet you.
My name is Ai Takita.
I’ve never been in a mistress-type relationship. I was interested, but eventually decided it wasn’t for me and gave up on the idea.
I went to register with seven or eight dating clubs. I probably received around five offers, but I only actually went on a date with one person.
After attending various interviews, I feel like I learned what members are looking for in this industry.
I believe giving truly accurate advice is very difficult. It’s easy to advise someone based on set rules, but what we’re dealing with is people’s feelings.
The right answer differs depending on the two people who meet, and I feel it would be difficult for me to find that answer for them.
If I get the opportunity, I hope to gain more experience in the future.
First, let me answer as Kida.
Do I have any experience?
→ I went out for a meal with a woman I met through Paters. It ended badly for me. (I wrote about it on my blog.)
I’ve joined other dating clubs, but I’ve never actually gone on a date through them. Paters is the only one.
I have no experience as a kept partner.
You might think it’s difficult to be an effective concierge without any firsthand experience...
→ Exactly. I agree completely.
When we on the operations side get the meeting place slightly wrong or make a small mistake with the time, we tend to think, “It’s only a one-minute walk, so being one minute late isn’t a big deal.” I used to think that way too.
But when someone has been nervous and excited about a date since early that morning, it’s completely unacceptable for the staff to give the wrong directions—for example, mixing up the east and west exits.
The moment you meet someone for the first time is a unique, irreplaceable event that can never be redone. I didn’t truly understand that just sitting in the office typing on a computer. I realized it when I was allowed to accompany a female member to a date meeting point. Every second felt like a full minute.
And if you’re the person actually involved, that feeling must be even stronger.
I’d been aware of this for a long time, so we often send employees who aren’t used to it yet to assist female members at their meeting points.
As an internal initiative, we also provide an “industry research allowance.” If staff attend other clubs or papa-katsu-related parties and submit a detailed report, we pay them a small allowance.
However, even when conducting undercover research, the rules are that they must never become intimate with the other person, must not be disrespectful, and must not cause trouble for the venue.
There’s no need for us to advise on techniques in bed. If that ever becomes necessary, we’ll ask Nanase.
Unfortunately, hardly any staff members make use of this program these days.
As described on the blog, Takita actually went on dates and got caught up in all sorts of complications.
But fundamentally, I think of it as a relationship between “performers and backstage staff.”
Our role is to work behind the scenes so that our female members can fully portray modern-day Cinderellas on a stage filled with beautiful music and dazzling lights. So I don’t necessarily believe someone has to be able to dance themselves in order to do this job.
What matters is becoming a staff member who understands how the performers feel.
I’ve never seen an outstanding dancer become an outstanding stage manager, so I think they require different talents.
