Mamiya from Universe Club Tokyo here.
I feel that approaching this with the attitude of “It’s the rule, so you need to follow it to the letter” is a little off.
If you’re strict with the women and strict with the men, there’s no way the date will be enjoyable.
This may not be my place to say as someone on the management side, but in my personal opinion, doing papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) just for the immediate transportation money won’t lead to anything good.
I’m Imai, Chief of Universe Club Tokyo.
Since giving the transportation allowance upfront was introduced as a request partway through, some long-time male members may not be fully aware of it.
For newly enrolled male members, our staff explain during their consultation that, “If you could give the woman the allowance for the dinner date (transportation costs) when you meet, she’ll likely feel more at ease and be able to enjoy the date.”
That said, some men prefer to give it at the end of the date, saying “Thank you for today,” because they want to be mindful of the mood.
If the man happens to forget, please feel free to give him a quick reminder. If you feel uncomfortable bringing it up and end up not receiving it, our staff can speak with him after the date as a last resort.
Maezawa from the President’s Office here.
There are actually several reasons behind this, but as of midway through last month, advance payment has been changed to a “request to the men.”
The request is essentially this:
“When transportation expenses are given before the meal, or clearly treated as separate from the allowance when discussing the terms, the date generally goes more smoothly and the chances of becoming a couple afterward increase. We understand this may affect the atmosphere, but we would really appreciate it if you could give it a try.”
Normally, when the management makes a request, people generally understand that although it is phrased as a request, they should comply.
For example, these days, due to COVID-19, if a sign at a restaurant entrance says, “Please wear a mask when entering,” most people either put on a mask or don’t enter.
However, there are also people who think, “It’s only a request, so I don’t actually have to wear one. What’s wrong with entering without a mask?” and go in anyway. Even when the staff asks them again, they might say something like, “You can’t stop me just because it’s a request,” and force their way inside.
I’d like to believe there are no men registered with Universe like that, but apparently, in reality, there are.
Unfortunately, since this has now been changed to a request, all I can do is say that we would appreciate it if the men respected it.
Therefore, going forward, I hope you will continue your activities trusting that you will receive your allowance properly, even if it is paid afterward.
I’m sorry that my lack of ability has caused you more concerns. Thank you for your understanding.
