AOL living in Fukuoka shares her real experience of "papa katsu." Why did she transition from tired Paters in Tokyo to the laid-back "YOITOKI" papa katsu? She also introduces the unique culture of Fukuoka.
Table of Contents
My first papa katsu experience was with Paters. There are actual reasons for being tired.
The differences I felt as a Fukuoka PJ compared to Tokyo and Osaka.
The timing of my encounter with YOITOKI was just right.
The "common" culture when engaging in papa katsu in Fukuoka.
My private assessment of whether Fukuoka papa katsu is suitable for me.
1. My first papa katsu experience was with Paters. There are actual reasons for being tired.
I started engaging in papa katsu out of a bit of curiosity, thinking it would help with my living expenses...
The first app I chose was the well-known app “Paters.” There are many registrants, and my friends in Tokyo recommended it, so I thought it would be a safe bet.
...but to cut to the chase, I was just tired.
The exchanges in messages were all templates.
Before meeting, the question "Are you open to adults?" kept coming up.
The papa I met in person had a strong "Kanto vibe," and our conversations and energy didn't match.
I think Fukuoka is a place where you feel more "space" and "emotion" between people.
But the people you meet on Paters feel somewhat business-like. It felt like I was being treated as a "product," which didn't suit me.
2. The differences I felt as a Fukuoka PJ compared to Tokyo and Osaka.
Papa katsu in Fukuoka has a unique local feel.
For example...
There are a lot of invitations to "let's go for drinks" (more alcohol than food).
Using casual speech right from the first meeting is common, which throws off the sense of distance.
Once you meet, there's suddenly a lot of LINE messages. It's easy to get emotionally involved, leading to a "girlfriend-like" state.
In Tokyo, purely transactional relationships are mainstream, but in Fukuoka, there's an atmosphere of "if we get along, maybe we could continue a bit."
Because of that, it can feel emotionally labor-intensive, and when you’re tired, you're really tired (laughs).
3. The timing of my encounter with YOITOKI was just right.
After being worn down by Paters, I found “YOITOKI”.
I came across an ad on Twitter, saw that "there are many registrants from Fukuoka," and tried it out, and surprisingly, it suited me well.
There are many papas who aren’t aggressive (they're the "looking for conversation partners" type).
You can start without writing a profile (which is honestly appreciated).
It's free for women, and there’s a face-to-face system, which is reassuring.
There are quite a few people from the Fukuoka and Kyushu areas.
The management keeps a proper patrol, giving a sense of security that "you’re less likely to encounter weird people."
4. The "common" culture when engaging in papa katsu in Fukuoka.
Engaging in P katsu in Fukuoka strikes a perfect balance of 'not too urban, yet not too rural.'
However, the more you do it, the more you start to see things.
There are many business trip papas (around Hakata to Tenjin).
People who seem like business owners tend to invite you to cafes or high-end hotel lounges.
There’s also a vibe similar to "gala drinking" (some people meet through pato or aima).
Also, many are short-term gigs that end quickly, which is a downside.
But conversely, it might suit those who think, "it's simple and easy."
5. My private assessment of whether Fukuoka papa katsu is suitable for me.
✅ People who may fit with Fukuoka P katsu:
Want to value the distance between people.
Want to maintain a relaxed and easy-going relationship.
Can enjoy one-time encounters with traveling or relocating papas.
❌ People who may not fit:
Only seeking completely transactional and immediate cases.
Those used to the Tokyo-style template.
The type who doesn’t want to get emotionally involved.
6. Conclusion: If you're going to engage in papa katsu in Fukuoka, it's important to maintain a "sense of distance" that suits you.
Papa katsu is a gray and complex world, but if you can find the right way, person, and sense of distance for you, it’s surprisingly not that tough.
With YOITOKI, I finally started to grasp that pace.
It's something I can't tell anyone, but there's a bit of human drama, and that makes it interesting.
I think Fukuoka is a city that still has that "space between people."
By the way, today I also received a LINE from a papa I met through YOITOKI saying, "Let's go for some delicious motsunabe next time."
...No, there's no way that’s just going to end up being a meal (laughs).
