Papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) is a thing of the past. I hear it’s become less safe and allowances have been dropping compared with around two years ago.

I’m Fuu, a columnist. If that’s how you feel, then please work hard in the nightlife business. It’s a tough job. papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) isn’t really a job, so women can choose who they meet, whereas in the nightlife business, you have to deal with men in all kinds of conditions. I imagine that a man with nose hair showing would seem like the least of your worries. (笑) I respect you. Keep doing your best. The term “papa-katsu” has become widely known, which has increased its promotional impact. papa-katsu has become more casual, and the lawlessness on the apps is certainly hard to overlook, but dating apps continue to operate in much the same kind of lawless environment. As long as there is a balance between supply and demand, papa-katsu doesn’t seem likely to disappear. This club also needs to continue offering high-quality content if it is to survive. In the end, whether it’s papa-katsu or the nightlife business, women who have some kind of appeal are the ones who earn money and enjoy the benefits. Developing that appeal requires identifying and improving your own shortcomings, as well as making an effort to become more beautiful both inside and out. I hope people will realize that men find no appeal in someone whose personality leads them to post insults and complaints in the Q&A box.

I’m Aya, a female member. I started around 2017, but I found a papa (a male supporter) I really value, so I’m currently taking a break. So honestly, I don’t know what交際クラブ are like these days during the pandemic. You mentioned wanting to work in nightlife, but the industry is especially tough right now. Most places won’t hire beginners with no existing customers. Even if you do get hired, unless you can go out with customers at least seven or eight times a month, your shifts will quickly be cut back. Whether it’s papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) or nightlife work, I don’t think you should rely solely on making money by selling your femininity.

I’m Kamihikoki, a male member. Papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan), the sex trade, red-light districts, mistresses, romantic relationships, and affairs all seem to have continued since long before the Edo period—sometimes unchanged, sometimes evolving in various ways. Each has its own pros and cons, and what suits one person may not suit another. I think it’s best to find whatever feels right and comfortable for you.

I’m Nana Ayase♡ Just as Papua said, I honestly think any female member who asks such a ridiculous, brainless question as, “Isn’t it disgusting to have an older man touch your body?” should quit Universe as soon as possible. Joining on a whim with friends like that is seriously nothing but a nuisance. (angry) If you’re quitting papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) to work in the nightlife business, then go ahead. If you show up for around 10 hours every day, I can’t guarantee customers will come, but some ordinary middle-aged guys will probably pay for you.

I’m Maezawa from the CEO’s office, and I’ll answer this too. The activity of looking for a marriage partner is called konkatsu. The activity of looking for a job is called shūkatsu. So, papa-katsu was supposed to mean looking for someone who would become your papa (a male supporter). But then some TV station, apparently to make the story more entertaining, came up with the strange explanation that papa-katsu means getting paid just for having a meal with someone. That’s when papa-katsu started to go off track. Since you’re only having a meal together, it feels like it should be called “meshi-katsu” instead. I was surprised by the TV station’s rather forced interpretation. That said, quite a few years have passed since then, and the understanding that papa-katsu isn’t limited to meals has become widespread. These days, most people recognize that papa-katsu isn’t just about having dinner. Even so, there are still plenty of people who want to get paid just for a meal. But when you think about it, papas generally have more knowledge and life experience, so if it’s really just dinner, wouldn’t it be more natural for the woman to pay? After all, attending a seminar usually costs money, and so does going to school, right? When you’re listening to someone knowledgeable, it seems normal for the listener to pay. (笑) I’ve gotten off track, but although the term papa-katsu itself may be outdated, just as hostess work and the adult entertainment industry have existed for a long time, men and women have always found ways to meet. The way this is written, it sounds as though the person is trying to rationalize working in the nightlife industry. But you don’t need to go out of your way to explain it like that. If you want to work in the nightlife industry, then just do it. That said, I’ve heard that nightlife businesses—especially places that serve alcohol—have been struggling because of COVID-19, emergency declarations, and everything else. Is that not the case? Maybe they’re operating secretly?

I’m Kazu, a male member. I think it’s safe to say that whenever something gets turned into a TV drama, its peak popularity has already passed. Since papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) apparently became a drama back in 2017, isn’t calling it “over” itself already old news? As papa-katsu has become more widely known, it has also become more mainstream. So, as you pointed out, it’s hardly surprising if the environment has gotten rougher and the allowances have gone down. That said, even about 20 years ago, when I used to go out drinking, women who had been in the nightlife business for a long time would say, “Things were better back in the day.” Come to think of it, around 10 years ago there was also talk of hostesses ranking first in a survey of the jobs high school girls wanted. Last year, I often saw women at Universe Club who had given up on the nightlife business because of COVID. I honestly can’t understand where the idea comes from that, since papa-katsu is a finished trend, they should switch over to the nightlife business instead. You don’t seem to have much of a grasp of the times, so I think you should try using your head a little more. In any line of work, the people who think strategically and keep themselves afloat survive, while those who simply drift along without thinking for themselves eventually drown.