Sugar Dating Scandal: How Japan’s ‘Papa Play’ Is Turning Into a Social Crisis

Young women in Japan reportedly earn millions of yen per month from a popular part-time gig: hanging out with men their fathers’ age.

Known as “Papakatsu (Daddy Dating),” this money-making side hustle is becoming a social issue as it reportedly involves influential politicians.

On June 18, Abema Times interviewed Rika (25, pseudonym), who makes money from Papakatsu.

“I have been earning 5 million yen (approximately $44,000) per month by dating middle-aged men for the past two years,” she revealed.

Converting into an annual income, she earns about 60 million yen (approximately $530,000),

“I’ve met 30 ‘daddies’ so far, and I receive 30,000 to 150,000 yen (approximately $190 to $950) every time we meet. They also buy me home appliances,” she boasted.

Rika added that men who hesitate to give money are unsuitable for Papakatsu. She confessed she doesn’t feel guilty about receiving money to fulfill a fantasy and provide a good time. She emphasized that the key to her job is to make them believe they’ve created a woman customized to their taste.

The investigation found that a significant number of men seeking Papakatsu are married. Last April, Hiroyuki Miyazawa, a four-term member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was found to have used Papakatsu and was forced to resign.

Papakatsu may even turn into a criminal offense. Mai Watanabe was found guilty of embezzling 155 million yen ($980,000) from men she matched with and was given a 9-year prison sentence and an 8 million yen ($50,700) fine.

Some victims gave Watanabe money, even canceling their life insurance, by trusting in the promise of marriage.