The only person I can rely on is my papa (a male supporter). I’m estranged from my parents. My siblings are much older than me and are already married. I’m not in touch with any friends either.

I’m Shingo Lee, a columnist. It must be incredibly difficult not having anyone you can rely on. I’ve noticed there are actually quite a lot of people like that around me, especially in Tokyo. Both men and women often say they’ve completely lost touch with their family and friends. They may have coworkers they get along with on a surface level, but no one they can open up to about anything a little more personal. My advice to both men and women is: “Build connections with like-minded people.” “Companions” are different from “friends”—they’re people you connect with through a particular interest or activity. Once you’re over 20, it’s difficult to make a friend you can talk to about absolutely anything. Instead, it may be better to build relationships where you have one person you can discuss work with, another you can talk to about romance, and so on—not relying on one person for everything, but having many people you can talk to casually. Having papa-katsu as your only source of income is a problem. For people like the questioner who don’t have many friends, I usually recommend steadily earning small amounts of money while developing useful skills. It isn’t as efficient as papa-katsu, but it can build your confidence, and it gives you a way to earn money even as you get older, so I recommend it. I don’t write much about it on Twitter, but I’ve been researching these kinds of methods. I believe that people like you can become happier by learning a few simple tips. If you have any more specific questions, please feel free to ask again.

Shouldn’t you start by getting a proper job and making the effort to earn your own money? Akari

I’m Dai, a male member. First, you should rethink the assumption that you’ll always be able to rely on someone else. By the time you’re in your 40s or 50s, it’s quite normal for your parents to no longer be around. If you’re an only child with few relatives, and you’re single with no children, you may eventually have no one to depend on. Building the ability to support yourself is important, and your regular job should be the foundation of your life. papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) should only be something that adds a little comfort to your life. It shouldn’t become the center of it.

Maezawa from the CEO’s Office here, answering your question as well. I’m not sure why you ended up asking, “Is papa-katsu my only option?” at the end, but I’m sure there are other possibilities too. That said, since you’ve asked here, I imagine you’re mainly considering papa-katsu. If so, I think it would be a good idea to find a few other reliable papas (male supporters) as well. Having around three would probably give you some peace of mind in case something comes up. I think you should try looking for other papas too.

I’m Kazu, a male member. You say you have one papa (a male supporter) you can rely on, but wouldn’t that still count as papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan)? I think it’s healthier to have sources of income besides papa-katsu. In my view, papa-katsu should be something extra, except in emergencies.