I’m a female member.

I’m Maezawa from the CEO’s Office, and I’ll answer this one too. Thank you for your question. I think this is a very difficult situation. The reason is that while the man is happy with the current 5, he seems to like you enough that he might be willing to pay up to around 7. However, if he actually raises it to 7, it may become financially difficult for him, meaning he might have to spend less on meals or reduce how often you meet. So he probably can’t bring himself to increase the allowance on his own, but he also doesn’t want you to suddenly end things. That’s why he may be asking whether you’re dissatisfied with the current allowance. In response, I think he would feel reassured if you told him that the current allowance is fine. But even if you said, “I’d honestly be happy if it were a little more,” I feel things would probably still be okay as long as he currently likes spending time with you. That said, of course, you’re easier for him to continue seeing at 5. Even if he raises it to 7, there’s a good chance things could end if another woman he likes more appears and is willing to meet for 5. The same applies from the woman’s perspective. You may like a man and be seeing him for 5, but you probably also worry that things could end if a man willing to pay 7 comes along. There’s also a possibility that he’s simply testing you. If that’s the case, he may be disappointed if you say 7. The reason I said this was difficult is that we don’t know which of these situations applies. Personally, I think the most likely explanation is that he likes you. So when he asks, I think it would be good to say something like, “I’d be happy if you could increase it a little.” Then, based on his reaction, if it seems difficult for him, you can simply end with, “The current amount is fine too.” That way, it’s unlikely that the relationship will end. And if he has some financial room, there’s a chance he may raise it to 7 or so. You’re the one actually seeing him, so you probably have the best sense of whether he likes you. I’d suggest figuring that out first.

I’m Tetsu, a male member. After hearing your story, my impression is that this was a pretty nasty trick question. From the outset, I doubt he had any intention of agreeing to an increased allowance or putting up with demands. If you ask for more or make demands, there’s a good chance he’ll not only be disappointed but cut ties with you. If he were willing to increase it, he could simply do so without asking what you wanted. The fact that he went out of his way to ask suggests that he has no intention of increasing it—and that by making you name an allowance, he wanted to shut down any possibility of you asking for more in the future. I believe men and women should be on equal footing in club dating. If I were in your position, I would answer: “I see the allowance as something determined by the gentleman’s feelings, so I’m not concerned about it at this point. If I ever feel that the allowance doesn’t match how I feel about you, I’ll have to consider whether I want to continue seeing you.” If you give a specific amount, you’re just playing into his hands.

I’m Flag Maker, a column writer. Asking outright for an increase in your standard pay-per-meeting allowance might not get the best response. How about starting by negotiating a higher allowance just for a special occasion—for example, “Well… it’s my birthday this month, so could we make it 100,000 yen just this month? ♡”

I’m in Seattle. If she asks, I’ll raise the allowance and pay whatever amount she names. That said, once I start getting bored, I’m quicker to end things.

I’m Kazu, a male member. If you personally feel that 5 on the platinum plan is reasonable, then I think that’s perfectly fine. I get the impression that the men you’re seeing enjoy testing people. Personally, I’m not a fan of that. If he likes you because you don’t bring up money, then why is he the one bringing it up? I think he’s watching how you respond when money comes up—in other words, testing you. He really didn’t need to say that. But I think the reason he tests you is that he isn’t confident you’re satisfied with the relationship. Maybe just think of his awkwardness as endearing. Personally, rather than asking, “Would you like me to increase it?” he could simply raise your allowance and come across as a true gentleman. I think he’s remarkably awkward. For someone like me, who considers himself awkward, to call him awkward means he must be extremely so. I don’t think you like him simply because he doesn’t cost much. Of course, if he had offered 7 from the start, you might not have ended up seeing each other regularly—and if he had offered 3, you might not have either. To be frank, some platinum women who message me on LINE say they’d like to meet even if it’s only 3. But does that make me want to see them just because 3 is inexpensive? No. I think that’s generally how allowances work for most men. Of course, there are men who simply want to get off as cost-effectively as possible, and those men may prioritize women who are willing to accept 3. Whether that man feels disappointed if you say, “I’d be happy if the allowance were higher,” depends on him. He might say, “Okay, then I’ll make it 7,” or he might think, “So it really is about the money.” Since you don’t know how he’ll react, I don’t think you should test him either. Ultimately, if you personally feel comfortable with the current arrangement, I think it’s better not to try to change things unilaterally.