China Sees Rise in “Cosplay Dates” Among Young Women

A unique dating service is gaining popularity in China, where a female cosplayer dresses up as the client’s ideal man and takes her on a date.

According to a report by Deutsche Welle, this service is especially popular among young women in China, who are looking for an alternative to traditional dating.

One user, Feng, hired a tall female cosplayer to dress up as her favorite anime character. The two went on a date, shopping and eating out together, taking pictures, and enjoying each other’s company. Feng explained, “I’m not really interested in real-life men. I prefer characters from anime and manga.”

The number of people using these “cosplay services” has been increasing in China, particularly in the multicultural city of Shanghai. The fee for a “cosplay request” is approximately 500 yuan (about 10,000 yen) per day.

An expert pointed out that this phenomenon may be related to the human desire to be seen and appreciated by others. “Money is paid, but the desire is fulfilled, and it has a certain healing effect,” the expert said.

A woman providing the service explained, “Women are using these services to raise their standards for men in the real world. They’re trying to eradicate ‘low-quality’ men from their lives.”

Another expert noted, “People are looking for an alternative to real human relationships. They think that as long as they pay the money, there will be no conflicts in this kind of relationship, and they can express their feelings freely.”