I’m a female member, and there’s something that’s been worrying me lately, so I’d like to ask for advice. What should I do if an earthquake strikes during intimacy—or while engaging in BDSM? Has anyone ever experienced this? I worry that if I were tied to a wall and couldn’t move, I might not escape in time, or that I wouldn’t be able to flee if I were still naked. I sometimes think about all these things, lose focus, and get scared. Maybe it’s because I experienced the Tohoku earthquake? Earthquakes are frightening. Thank you in advance.

Universe Tokyo’s Mamiya here. I’ve heard that men also experience a post-orgasm “sage mode,” as if it’s an instinctive need to regain composure. While sleeping or having sex are the times we’d be most vulnerable if an enemy attacked us, so perhaps something close to our instincts is at work. With BDSM, you’re deliberately creating a dangerous situation, so if you can’t enjoy it, maybe it simply isn’t for you. As humans evolved to survive, we developed the ability to anticipate the future and feel anxiety in order to prepare for danger. But aside from death itself, most worries are unnecessary. You may have some trauma, but don’t you think you might be overthinking it a little?

I’m Date◎Yume, a male member. It’s only natural to worry, since you never know when an earthquake might strike. > Not only during intimate moments, but also while playing SM… Exactly. You’re absolutely right. Evacuating with a man while naked, blindfolded, wearing a collar, and tied with your hands behind your back would be a little embarrassing（笑） So, if you’re planning to engage in that kind of activity, it’s best to do so somewhere that should be relatively safe even in the event of a major earthquake. Avoid areas near the sea or rivers, as well as cliffs and depressions. Ideally, choose a room on the third floor of a sturdy reinforced-concrete building—no more than about five stories high—with stable ground. There, you should be able to safely enjoy the sensation of being jolted upward from below by a direct-hit earthquake. Give it a try（笑）

Maezawa from the CEO’s Office here. Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I’ve never been in a life-threatening situation due to an earthquake or other disaster. That’s why I tend to casually think that it would probably be fine as long as it happened during intimacy. However, SM play does seem like it could be dangerous, so if you’re worried, I think it would be better for your peace of mind not to engage in SM play. This also seems to be a matter of how you feel emotionally, so how safe you feel will likely depend on your past experiences as well.