Sorry, but it seems my earlier question about Aoyama and Ginza was cut off partway through…

Maezawa from the CEO’s office here—I’ll answer this too. A follow-up? You wrote, “I’m concerned that innocent young women doing papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) might believe this,” but you also wrote, “I assume the staff would stop them, since they wouldn’t receive any offers.” If that’s the case, then you’re saying there’s no problem because staff at other dating clubs would stop them. And since you apparently didn’t even know that Universe doesn’t discuss allowances, you must have assumed that Universe’s staff would stop them too. In that case, it sounds like you’re saying there’s actually nothing to be concerned about. I feel there’s a bit of a contradiction here. You also say that you initially went about it while paying attention to the going rates, but then write, “Once you meet a wonderful man and develop a long-term relationship, the going rate no longer matters.” Since you naturally stop worrying about it over time, that also sounds like you’re saying there’s nothing dangerous about it. And yet you write, “I think women who focus on things like that will eventually become lonely in the long run.” But since you also wrote that you were like that at first, it’s something people naturally come to understand without anyone having to spell it out. So I’m not really sure what point you’re trying to make here either. Besides, we don’t even know whether a scout actually said that. I don’t think a smart scout would say that dating clubs are a way to make money. Rather, I imagine a real scout would be someone who genuinely supports women, listens to their concerns—such as not receiving offers through a dating club—and earns their trust so they become someone the woman can rely on and talk to. So I doubt they would tell such an obvious lie. Incidentally, once a scout becomes someone a woman can rely on and consult with, she’ll often ask, “Can you tell me somewhere I can make more money?” The scout then introduces her to various opportunities step by step, and eventually refers her to a soapland to make money. That’s what I imagine, though I don’t know much about the world of scouting, so I could be completely wrong.

I’m Kazu, a male member. That’s true. I feel that women who are enjoying a good relationship don’t seem to worry much about the going rate. When someone is overly concerned with the amount of their allowance, regardless of gender, I find myself thinking that they probably aren’t having a very good relationship. Come to think of it, the question in the “Mistress Diagnosis”—“What monthly support amount would I like to receive?”—might actually be a message to women themselves. Whether or not they answer that question honestly is another matter, but if they remember the amount that came to mind when they saw it, perhaps they may find it easier to discover a good relationship. Many people probably register with a dating club for financial reasons, because they can’t get by without an allowance. So it may be understandable that they become focused on receiving as much allowance as possible in the short term. However, not just in dating clubs, I think people who are obsessed solely with picking up money right in front of them often have a hard time succeeding. Rather than focusing only on what’s immediately ahead, isn’t it important to keep a larger goal in mind and work toward it?

I’m Basil, a male member. When I first joined, part of me hoped I might find someone I could genuinely connect with, like the person described in the question. In reality, the overwhelming majority are focused on the short term, which was a real wake-up call. Then again, I’m constantly looking from one person to the next too, so I suppose we’re even. About one in ten seemed like someone I might have met in everyday life, but these days I simply enjoy papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) with the mindset of a casual, amateur version of the sex industry. The decisive difference from the sex industry is that you can say no and limit who you see, while there’s still a reasonable chance of finding the kind of ideal relationship described in the question.