I’m thinking about starting papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan), but is it better to work through a reputable dating club like this rather than an app? If I were to get involved in some kind of trouble with a man—such as finding out that he’s married—would the club help me deal with it? I’m also considering attending an interview. Thank you in advance.

Maezawa from the President’s Office here as well. > Is it better to use a reputable dating club like this rather than an app? Since the club has the men’s real names, addresses, and other information on file, Universe Club is safer than an app. If they do something seriously wrong, they could be arrested, so for the most part, this discourages them from doing anything illegal. However, “doing something wrong” in this context means something serious enough to result in arrest. It doesn’t necessarily prevent every kind of behavior that could be harmful to a woman. It only serves to deter conduct that could lead to police arrest. Just as crime in society will never be reduced to zero, people who think, “As long as I don’t get caught, it’s fine,” may still do bad things even if their real name and address are known. In that sense, it’s considerably safer than an app, but even with a dating club, you still need to protect yourself. > If I get involved in some kind of trouble with a man, such as finding out he’s married, will the club help deal with it? Even if you’re registered with Universe Club, the club becomes a third party when trouble arises. So there’s not much they can do directly, but they can listen to your concerns, refer you to a lawyer, or force the man to leave the club. By “listen to your concerns,” I mean that, for example, if a man promised to pay a certain amount but didn’t, the club can ask him what happened. They can also tell him something like, “Breaking a promise isn’t gentlemanly. Are you sure you’re okay with being banned from the club?” Incidentally, as Kazu also mentioned, at an adult entertainment establishment, you would presumably have an employment relationship with the establishment. Since it’s a business with staff on-site, the staff will deal with male customers if trouble occurs, so in terms of safety, I think it may actually be more reassuring than a dating club. (That depends on the establishment, of course, so you still need to choose carefully.) The trade-off, however, seems to be that you lose the freedom to refuse. With Universe Club, if you feel that a particular man is not for you, you can turn him down.

I’m Nana Ayase ♡ Please take a look through the old questions and answers in this question box. It’s safer than using an app because people’s identities are known. Since questioners also have to verify their identities, please make sure not to do anything unacceptable as a human being.

I’m Osaka, a male member. In the end, you’re the one who has to deal with things in real time, so I think you need to be prepared to protect yourself. By the way, this Q&A box is incredibly helpful. If you read through the old posts, you’ll probably get a pretty good idea of what papa-katsu (compensated dating in Japan) is really like. Some of the discussions go pretty deep too, lol. Once you do, you may develop the ability to handle yourself anywhere, whether it’s on an app or elsewhere. At the same time, though, you’ll probably realize just how advantageous UC’s system is. But basically, it all comes down to you! The person you meet can change depending on how you carry yourself and what you do, so the outcome depends on you, the person asking the question. Personally, I think there’s a lot to learn here that can even be applied to business. It’s deeper than you’d think, lol.

I’m Kazu, a male member. I moved from dating sites to a companion dating club because I felt there wasn’t much difference between dating apps and dating sites. Basically, you should assume that the club won’t step in to resolve disputes between members. A companion dating club is there to arrange dinner dates between men and women. Expecting anything beyond that is asking too much. The kind of intervention you’re expecting is something you’d get from an adult entertainment business. That said, the club verifies the identities of both parties, which I think serves as a deterrent for everyone involved, since in the event of a problem, you can at least confirm who you should file a complaint against.

I’m Dai, a male member. Compared with apps, it does feel more reassuring because there are fewer last-minute cancellations and misrepresentations. That said, it’s best to assume that the club’s involvement basically ends after the first date. After that, it’s a private relationship between the two of you. Of course, it’s different if something serious happens—such as secretly filming someone or theft—that would warrant police involvement. But the kinds of trouble you’re imagining are generally things you should resolve yourselves. If that concerns you, I think you can simply decline offers from married men.