In the third year since losing Chinese tourists, the term "buying spree," created specifically for Chinese customers, has unexpectedly returned to the headlines of Japanese media.
However, this time, what's being bought in the news is no longer cosmetics and luxury goods but another type of Japanese "specialty" – Japanese sugar baby.
"In Japan, 'sugar daddy' relationships can be conducted openly as a business. However, they must be presented as social companionship and should not emphasize sexual transactional services."
In the past, their clientele mainly consisted of Japanese men, but recently, more and more Japanese sugar babies are attempting to find a 'Chinese sugar daddy.'
Over the past couple of years, on the well-known Japanese 'sugar daddy' website, Univers Club, there has been a noticeable increase in inquiries and discussions regarding Chinese sugar daddies on their message boards.
"Where can I find delicious Peking duck in Tokyo? I've made plans with a Chinese sugar daddy to go eat Chinese food next time, price doesn't matter, as long as the restaurant is upscale."
Some people are asking how to interact respectfully with Chinese rich singles, some are inquiring about the special preferences of Chinese sugar daddies, and many more are curious about how to find a Chinese sugar daddy.
A 24-year-old sugar baby named Kris, who lives in the Minato Ward, recently enrolled in a language school to learn Chinese. She openly admitted on her social media account that she is learning Chinese just to connect with more Chinese sugar daddies for the reason Chinese sugar daddies are very generous.
Just having a meal together earns her 30,000 yen, equivalent to 200 US dollars, which is three times the going rate in the Japanese sugar daddy market.
In online posts boasting about Chinese sugar daddies, their generosity is widely praised. Being unfamiliar with the local pricing, they often end up giving more money than necessary, with tens of thousands of yen bills flowing like water.
"They gave me so much that the first time I received it, I thought I was caught up in some kind of criminal activity," laughed a Japanese sugar baby in her twenties in Tokyo. Over the two months before her Chinese sugar daddy returned to China, they regularly met, dined out, and stayed in hotels like a normal couple. By the end of those two months, she had earned more income than she did in a year working at a bar.
In the bustling world of nightlife, the myth of wealthy Chinese men continues to grow more exaggerated with each passing day.
For instance, overseas "business trips" bring even more substantial incomes. A 4-day trip to Macau can earn a Japanese sugar baby nearly $5,000, along with many high-end luxury gifts. If a sugar baby has a special background, such as being a former AV actress, prices can soar even higher, with two weeks' worth potentially reaching $17,000.
Another girl reminisced about her relationship with a Chinese sugar daddy, feeling like she was living in a dream:
"Just having a meal earned me $3,400, and then he suggested shopping and bought me $2,000 worth of designer clothes. Are all Chinese sugar daddies this amazing?"
Recently, Japanese sugar babies have been busy posting messages on sugar daddy websites, requesting the creation of a separate section for Chinese sugar daddies in the international zone. They also offer to translate their profiles into Chinese to help Chinese sugar daddies better understand Japanese girls.
While it may not be accurate to say that Chinese sugar daddies are "buying" Japanese girls, in the sugar daddy market, both parties are making mutual choices. Currently, "Chinese sugar daddies" are becoming a more attractive option for Japanese girls.
Compared to "Chinese sugar daddies," Japanese sugar daddies are seen as less accommodating. Some Japanese sugar daddies feel unfairly characterized, saying, "If it's just about money, there's no need to specifically look out Chinese individuals. We Japanese sugar daddies can provide the numbers you're looking for."
However, the changes in the market dynamics are well understood by the girls. In the past, sugar babies were roughly categorized into three price ranges:
"Tea and Meal Daddies": Inviting girls to have tea, eat a meal, and chat for 1-2 hours, with an additional $70 provided for transportation and tips on top of covering the meal expenses.
"Pay Per Meet" offer outings similar to those of couples, and they may engage in intimate activities like couples do. The price range for these encounters is around $140 to $200.
"Monthly Allowance Daddies" gain the girl's consent for a long-term relationship and have greater intimacy privileges. Naturally, this comes at a higher cost, ranging from $600 to $3,500 per month. For young women facing financial difficulties, putting effort into a sugar daddy relationship can help them address their economic challenges.
However, with the arrival of the pandemic, everything changed, and the sugar daddy market plummeted just as quickly as the depreciation of the Japanese yen.
"Before, when we went out to eat, everyone would at least give $70. Now, many people unceremoniously only give $35," one individual noted.
Kyoko, a sugar baby who is still in college, found that rates that used to be acceptable have nearly halved after the pandemic.
Being lucky enough to receive $35 is considered fortunate. In worse cases, after ending a date, opening the envelope with the tip from the "daddy" reveals only a 500 yen coin, which isn't enough to cover the subway ride home.
There are even daddies who refuse to pay anything at all.
"Even though we had a good chat on the sugar daddy app for seven or eight days, when I cautiously suggested 'let's meet for tea for $70,' the other person immediately blocked me," one individual shared.
While Chinese sugar daddies are generally generous and open-handed, Japanese sugar daddies are more concerned with equivalent exchange.
People also read: How to Have a Successful First Date with a Sugar Baby