I’m a female member who looks forward to the Q&A box.

I’ll answer this as Maezawa from the CEO’s office. > I’m having second thoughts because he’s a rare type for me and someone I found interesting. I’m not quite sure what you mean by “a rare type I found interesting,” but if he’s someone you’d want to meet even without an allowance, then you should meet him without one. If you turned him down because you didn’t feel he was that special, I don’t think you should dwell on it now. > Where is the line between seeing someone with and without an allowance? I don’t think there’s really a specific line. That man has probably never had a woman become overly attached to him or turn into a stalker, so he likely wants to date anyone without an allowance. You’ve been seeing each other with an allowance, and as your relationship has grown closer, he’s simply asking, “Would it be okay to stop the allowance soon?” That’s all it is. > What does it mean to be uncomfortable with a relationship involving an allowance? If he can date you without an allowance, that means he’s managed to completely win your heart. While there’s still an allowance, however, he hasn’t completely won you over. He wants you to be 100% in love with him, but as long as there’s an allowance, that isn’t the case. I think that’s all he means when he says he feels uncomfortable with it. Besides, if he wants you to be 100% in love with him, then for things to be balanced, you would also need to feel that he’s 100% in love with you. What, exactly, is he offering from his side? To make things balanced, I think the man would at least need to do something as significant as leaving his wife. Only then would the relationship be balanced. I think you should realize that it’s unreasonable to expect the other person to be serious when you can’t be serious yourself. > Would it be difficult to continue receiving an allowance from this type of man? You could try saying something like: “If we continue seeing each other with an allowance a little longer, I might end up developing genuine feelings. When that happens, I’d be fine with seeing you without an allowance, so would you continue things as they are for a little while longer?” If you continue the relationship with an allowance while giving him hope, I feel there’s a good chance you’ll be able to keep receiving one. Also, since you currently don’t have any financial difficulties, you might try indicating that you’ve recently started struggling financially. Some men may think, “Maybe she wants a little more allowance because she’s having money problems.”

I’m Tetsu, a male member. I’ve been involved in papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) for a little over a year, and now I can’t imagine doing it without an allowance. When I first started, I had the naïve hope that I might come across some great opportunities without paying an allowance. But as I continued, I realized that paying an allowance actually makes the relationship more comfortable and straightforward. I’m married and the type who enjoys a pretend romance. However, no matter how far things go, it will always remain just that, so I’d be in trouble if a woman developed genuine feelings for me. I put the brakes on once things reach a certain point. But since that means playing with her feelings, as we grow closer, I explain that I can’t reciprocate those feelings, and in return, I pay an allowance. We both understand and agree to continue seeing each other. I’m not sure if this is the right way to put it, but I think of the allowance as “compensation” for the woman. Someone who refuses to pay an allowance just seems like a cheapskate to me. People who say things like that are simply using the same tactic to hunt for women they can sleep with for free. Good thing you didn’t fall for it.（笑）

This morning, my wife spat out, “You smell like someone who’s about to die.” (Though seriously, you’ve never smelled that before, have you??) I’m Paper Airplane, a male member. To begin with, relationships involving an allowance are part of a very small and unusual world. (Leaving the sex industry aside.) Normally, having a relationship with an allowance involved is something a man would find pathetic, undignified, uncool, and best avoided. But for whatever reason, it’s a relationship obtained through money—quickly and without much effort—and is essentially a kind of contract. Even when there aren’t mutual feelings, unilaterally changing the arrangement to suit yourself goes against the principles of good faith. In the questioner’s case, it might be possible to have a healthy affair—or a relationship between lovers—with a modest allowance. A decent man would probably suggest terms that benefit both sides, even if they were lovers. Starting out by saying there will be no allowance simply because you’re “lovers” seems far too self-serving. After all, if you’re lovers, you’d normally be more considerate of each other. Also, if you’re looking for a lover, you would normally search in places where no allowance is involved, even if it takes more time. One more thing: when I see the statement, > Both of us are married, and neither of us is struggling financially. it can make someone feel less needed, which may also make them feel less of a need to receive an allowance or meet up. I think it’s better if the other person can clearly feel that their support is genuinely helping because you’re having a hard time. P.S. Mac, Thank you for the compliment. I’d like to become an ideal supporter—wait, no, that’s not what I meant… Perhaps my wife’s terrifying words, “You smell like someone who’s about to…” meant “Go to heaven and become a god.” Well, I’d still like to stay alive… lol

I’m Flag Maker, a columnist. Speculation 1: Because he genuinely likes her, he starts wanting a relationship between equals. However, having an allowance can lead to the man getting his way, while the woman feels obligated to be considerate. When you really like someone, that kind of dynamic can start to feel unpleasant. So he wants a relationship without an allowance. Speculation 2: He just wants a free casual partner. He doesn’t want to waste the money.

I’m Kazu, a male member who’s also looking forward to Mr. Uzai’s questions. I can’t accept a relationship without an allowance. Since I’m providing an allowance, I don’t want any “I love you” or anything like that. The furthest I’m comfortable with—and the most I’m looking for—is “I like you.” I like the women I’m seeing and supporting, and I want them to like me as their papa (a male supporter). But anything deeper than that is off-limits. If a woman said, “You don’t need to give me an allowance, so please see me more often,” I’d probably end the relationship. That sounds like a messy hassle. I use a dating club to avoid all kinds of complications, so if things become complicated, there’s no point in using one. I won’t name him, but one male member once said something memorable: “An allowance is a condom for the heart.” That’s exactly it. An allowance is a condom for the heart—it keeps things from turning into genuine romantic feelings.