This is Mack, one of the respondents. I have a question about Relationship Type E.

Maezawa from the Corporate Planning Office here as well. As for E, its definition has changed several times, so your understanding may differ depending on when you joined. ◆ About three years ago: E represented a level of openness even higher than D, which was the most proactive category. At the time, many people understood C as having about a 50% chance of success. Unlike today, there was less of an assumption that “Since she’s a C, an adult relationship (intimate) should be fine.” Even if you were turned down, that was considered normal because it was still a 50% category. D was positioned as slightly more proactive than C, so I think many people viewed it the way they view C today. It was something like: “It may be a little harder to turn her down, but if you aren’t gentlemanly about it, she’ll refuse.” E was more like today’s D. You were almost never turned down, and if you were, it was probably because of the allowance amount. ◆ A little while ago: It was a dating type chosen by women who prioritized meeting someone, such as those who wanted an allowance but didn’t consider it the most important thing; wanted to hear about the experiences of successful men; wanted to hear from and meet someone they could respect for having accomplished something; or wanted to value each other’s feelings and have a meaningful encounter. ◆ Today: It is now for people who want to prioritize the opportunity to meet someone. The current situation is similar to how it was before, but back then, there seemed to be more of an atmosphere that they didn’t even need an allowance. (Does that mean they were looking for romance?) Originally, the levels of openness were divided into five categories, but when they were changed to four, the definition of E became confused. In addition, the explanation men receive—and therefore their understanding—differs depending on when they joined. For these reasons, E is currently treated as a category that is best avoided.

I’m a male member, Basil. I always thought the reality of D was, “The hotel is guaranteed, but it depends on the allowance.” From a woman’s perspective, isn’t E probably seen as something like, “If we go to a hotel, I don’t need an allowance—but make me your girlfriend and think about a future together”? People may mistake “no transportation reimbursement” for “no allowance,” which makes it unpopular with women who register because they’re looking for money. And on top of that, there aren’t many men around their age.

I’m Paper Airplane, a male member. Types D and E are an entirely unfamiliar world to me. I’d always assumed E was the class chosen by people who probably wouldn’t get any offers. m(__)m

I’m Rin, a female member. When I first registered, I was classified as Type E without really understanding what that meant myself. The person who made me an offer at the time was, in fact, looking for a serious romantic relationship. He also asked the staff, “What does E mean?” but apparently still didn’t understand it. He approached me saying, “I’ll truly cherish you.” Neither of us had any understanding that a hotel visit was guaranteed. What he said clearly was, “I want your love.” However, even after I turned him down once, he kept contacting me, saying things like, “There’s no one else for me,” which became quite difficult to deal with. During my interview, I explained, “I understand that a relationship may develop. I’d like to meet someone I can respect—someone who has accomplished something. I’m not looking at it as, ‘How much for dinner only?’” They responded, “Let’s go with Type E!” and that’s what we did. I think Type E remains unclear because no one really knows what it actually means, and because the criteria—or wording—used to categorize it differ from those of the other types. After that, I switched to Type B, and things settled into a more peaceful club experience. In the end, perhaps Type E isn’t necessary. Or maybe it should be renamed with different wording specifically for people seeking a serious romantic relationship.