Papa-katsu among women in their 40s and single mothers is increasing (image is for illustrative purposes) A relationship not for romance, but for livelihood Papa-katsu, once considered a privilege of young women, is undergoing a major transformation. While the market was once centered on women in their 20s, women in their mid-30s to 40s, as well as single mothers, have begun to enter. Additionally, with a wider range of women participating, middle-class men are increasingly joining what had once been an activity dominated by the wealthy. This reveals a different pattern from the old “enjo-kosai” (compensated dating) relationships. Let’s look at the changing scene through the stories of two women who actually engaged in papa-katsu. The reasons many women in their late 30s and 40s or single mothers start papa-katsu are clear. It is often less about seeking love or excitement and more about securing financial support for daily life. Women in their late 30s to 40s are at life turning points involving marriage, divorce, childcare, and career changes. Women who are seeking work after finishing raising children, married women whose husband’s income alone is insufficient to maintain their lifestyle, or single mothers just after divorce—all share one thing in common: economic insecurity. Especially for single mothers, papa-katsu is often chosen as a way to achieve high income in a short amount of time while balancing childcare and work. One woman, 35 years old, who had registered on a papa-katsu app, was interviewed. When actually meeting her, the impression was quite different from the profile photo that presented her as fair-skinned and neat. Speaking with her, it turned out she had surprisingly much information to share. She is mixed-race and works as an interpreter, having lived overseas in her childhood. She has been separated from her husband for six months due to his moral harassment, and only meets him in court. She met her husband via a matching app and had a shotgun wedding. She currently has a child in kindergarten, but receives no child support from her husband. After her relationship with her husband deteriorated, she began seeing younger men again via the app.