I’m a 48-year-old woman. At my age, roughly how much allowance can I expect? Would 30,000 yen for one meeting, including an adult relationship (intimate), be reasonable? I’m inexperienced and don’t really know, so I’d like to hear both men’s and women’s opinions.

I’m Marika, and I’m not much older than you. I don’t think you can judge someone based on just one date. When you take everything into account, you’ll meet all kinds of people—some you’d like to see again even for 3, and others you wouldn’t want to see again even for 10. Whether it’s reasonable comes down to how satisfied you are. From your question, it doesn’t sound like you’re satisfied, but when you say “5” next time, will the other person actually feel satisfied and consider it reasonable? (I’m talking about a different partner, by the way.) Even if they accept it at the time, if there’s no next meeting, I think that means they didn’t really consider it reasonable. Don’t compare yourself to others. (That said, I’d also feel unhappy if he gave other women millions but wouldn’t give me anything.) Act according to your own values and carve out your own path. Marika

Maezawa from the president’s office will answer as well. If a woman becomes intimate with a man and that relationship continues afterward, it means she has something attractive about her. Even after the physical relationship ends, some women still receive the same allowance—10—for things like meals alone, just as they did when they were intimate. I believe that woman was in her 30s, but I think something similar could still happen in your late 40s. Ultimately, I think it depends on how attractive you are to the person asking the question. However, if it’s viewed as simply having sex, your allowance will probably decrease with age. The body declines with age—that’s true for both men and women. Men compensate for that by offering an allowance. For women, it comes down to what else they can bring to the relationship. If they have nothing additional to offer, the amount may end up being even lower. On the other hand, the life experience you’ve gained can show in the difference in your hospitality. If you can provide enjoyable conversation and a comfortable, pleasant time, the man may want to continue seeing you even if it means offering a higher allowance. If you’re not sure what you’re worth, it may be best to leave it up to the other person. Of course, the amount could turn out to be unbelievably low, so I think you should carefully judge the man before deciding whether to accept.

I’m Taro, a male member. Since you’re wondering, I’ll tell you: from what I’ve heard at other clubs, the usual amount is around 20,000–30,000 yen. But it really depends on the person, and this is a world where there seems to be a market rate, yet there really isn’t one—so I don’t think you need to worry too much about it. I’d suggest setting an amount you won’t regret. On the other hand, if meeting someone is your priority, you could simply leave it up to the other person. I think this is a category where, unlike with younger girls, people judge you not just by your appearance but also by who you are inside. So I believe it’s important in itself to have your own way of approaching questions like this, where there’s no single right answer. Best of luck, and I hope you have a great meeting.

I’m Paper Airplane, a male member getting absolutely roasted over the “23 is the retirement age for papa-katsu” theory. Huh? You’re more than twice that age… Wait—struck out again…

I’m Kazu, a male member. You’re adults, so please act like it. The allowance isn’t determined by age alone, you know.