In a long-term arrangement, do you prioritize her reason for doing papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) or her looks? I’m not sure how to put it, but would you choose a girl who makes you think, “I want to support her dreams and goals,” or one who does papa-katsu because she wants money for a luxurious lifestyle, but is absolutely gorgeous and exactly your type?

I’m in Seattle. For me, it’s either ① whether we enjoy talking together, or ② sexual compatibility.

I’m Taro, a male member. The latter is pretty much never the case. If someone were exactly my type, maybe I’d see her a few times, but I’d get used to it quickly and lose interest. On the other hand, I don’t do papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) for any particular reason, either. I often ask about a woman’s reasons, but I can never tell whether the answer is genuine or rehearsed. Besides, I believe the best part of life is making your dreams come true through your own efforts, so I don’t pave the way for anyone. That said, there have been times when I ended up becoming emotional support for someone. So what is it, then? Compatibility. Intimate compatibility, and compatibility in the way we think. It’s not about any one specific thing—I just want to enjoy the time we spend together. That’s all. I don’t think rehearsed answers or techniques have much to do with it. If you spend enough time together, lies eventually become obvious. That’s why I think what matters is how quickly you can show your real self, and whether you can get past the awkwardness of meeting for the first time and the interests involved, and connect with the other person genuinely. This applies to both women and men. In particular, if a woman agrees to see you again when you ask, and there aren’t any major red flags, I think it’s worth meeting her several more times. Sometimes you only really get to know someone after seeing them repeatedly. I feel like they said something on last week’s Shōten: “What do dating clubs and kombu have in common? The more you chew, the more flavor they have.” Or maybe I’m remembering wrong. Who knows.

I’m Flagmaker, a column writer. What matters is whether I think he’s a good person—and, beyond that, whether he’s good for me.

I’m Paper Airplane, a male member. Ideally, I’d like to meet someone who isn’t doing papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan), but is gorgeous, exactly my type, and compatible with me… So I guess I’ll be looking for someone who comes close to that. Compatibility can mean anything—conversation, physical chemistry, how comfortable you feel together, and so on.

Maezawa from the President’s Office here as well. I think many men prioritize looks when they first join, but as they go on more dates, they start to realize that having good chemistry with a woman matters most. So, I’m guessing the person asking is a beginner... To begin with, I don’t understand why you’re asking others here about standards that should come from within you. I think most people live according to their own standards of what they consider good. What are you going to do by asking other people? Go on more dates.

I’m Kazu, a male member. It’s not about the reason or her looks. Compatibility is everything. > Is she someone who makes me think, “I want to support her dreams and goals”? If you genuinely feel that way, wouldn’t you just give her money without having sex with her? Whenever I hear this kind of pretty talk, I think, “Then why not donate to a children’s home instead?” > I’m doing papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) because I want money for luxuries, but she’s absolutely gorgeous and exactly my type. “Luxury” means something different to everyone, so as long as it doesn’t disadvantage me, I don’t care what she uses her allowance for.

This is Uehara from the staff. I think it depends on the papa (male supporter).