Why a Wife Seeks More Than Romance in Married Circles

Why do people commit adultery?
Don’t they feel guilty?

Recently, incidents of infidelity involving high-profile figures such as Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, and celebrity Sarina Suzuki have stirred public attention. Whenever news of a celebrity affair breaks, comment sections on news sites are flooded with critical remarks like these.

If discovered, it could lead to the loss of one’s job, social standing, or even family. Yet, despite knowing that romantic relationships outside of marriage are wrong, some still take the risk and become engrossed in them.

Among these, married couples’ circles remain highly popular, even in the current era of thriving dating apps. A quick online search reveals over 10 such groups.

Married couples’ circles are organized by event companies to facilitate meetings between married men and women. In Tokyo, men typically pay an admission fee of around 10,000 yen, while women can join for a few thousand yen or even for free in some cases. Most circles require both men and women to present identification, such as a driver’s license, upon joining.

These circles host meet-up parties day and night, every day, in various locations, highlighting just how many married individuals are seeking new encounters.

I have no desire for an affair, but let’s make mom friends instead!

Why are married couples’ circles so popular?

“There are two main reasons,”

Explains Hiroshi Ikeuchi, a marital issues analyst who has handled over 38,000 consultations on topics such as infidelity and divorce.

“The first reason is tied to the appeal of such circles in urban areas. Women who have moved to cities from rural areas often join married couples’ circles to make friends. It’s a mindset like, ‘I have no desire for an affair, but I want to make mom friends.’ If you look at the websites of these circles, almost all of them clearly state, ‘This is not a circle for infidelity.’ The fact that they aren’t explicitly intended for sexual encounters lowers the psychological barrier and allows people to participate without guilt.

The second reason is that these circles provide a place where women can dress up and boost their motivation as women. Particularly for stay-at-home mothers, there are few opportunities to dress up and go out. Many husbands no longer see their wives as women in a romantic sense. Even if the initial intent isn’t to have an affair, going to a circle dressed a bit more stylishly than usual can result in men treating them as women again. It offers a break from the everyday routine of being so-and-so’s mom and allows them to experience a sense of escape from the mundane. This, I believe, is the reason for their popularity,” says Ikeuchi.

To delve deeper, we interviewed Nana, a 42-year-old nurse and mother of two—a high school daughter and an elementary school son—who is actively involved in a married couples’ circle. With her petite frame and striking, well-defined features, Nana has a cool beauty vibe, resembling an adult version of actress Maika Yamamoto with a sultry aura.

In the premium content of FRIDAY Digital, Nana shares her experiences in married couples’ circles, the details of her romantic affairs, and her honest reasons for pursuing infidelity, offering a candid glimpse into the mind of a cheating wife.