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The Star
25-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Star
Japan ‘kept man' gains fame for being supported by 15 wealthy women, earns US$7,000 monthly
A Japanese man who has embraced the role of a full-time kept man for years, financially supported by as many as 15 wealthy women at one time, has garnered significant attention online due to his unique lifestyle, which allowed him to earn as much as 1 million yen (US$7,000) each month. The man, identified as Takuya Ikoma, 31, went viral after sharing his personal experiences on his YouTube channel, which boasts around 3,000 followers. He stated: 'Everyone thinks being a 'kept man' means having money and free time, but managing 15 affluent women at once can be enjoyable, yet it's also incredibly tiring.' Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. For instance, his videos demonstrate that before meeting wealthy clients, he took great care to present himself impeccably. This included applying make-up, grooming his hair, and selecting appropriate attire. At the homes of his clients, he engaged in a variety of activities, such as dining and drinking with them, engaging in conversation, providing emotional support, and fulfilling his role as a 'housekeeper'. His household chores included mopping the floor, washing dishes, cleaning bathrooms – including scrubbing toilets – and even picking up after dogs. Remarkably, he earned 160,000 yen (US$1,100) for just three hours of household services. In a 2019 interview with Abema TV, Ikoma revealed that at his peak, he earned up to 1 million yen per month while catering to 15 wealthy women, working a mere eight days a month. One client in her 20s remarked: 'For me, it's simply a cost-to-benefit situation. I find dating too exhausting. He is very sociable, and as long as I pay for his services, he provides me with emotional support. I don't have to invest emotionally; I just spend money to enjoy myself.' As demand for his services increased, he started to be more selective with his clients, prioritising them based on their appearances. In one instance, a wealthy woman offered him 1 million yen a month for exclusive services, but he declined, emphasising that he needed to remain available to all his clients. Ikoma's journey began at the age of 18 when he discovered his ability to charm older, affluent women, who treated him extravagantly and provided him with extra money for accompanying them on shopping trips or dining outings. He then made the bold decision to pursue a full-time career as a 'kept man'. However, during the Covid pandemic, the number of his clients dwindled from 15 to just seven, leading to a significant decline in his income and prompting him to devise new strategies for financial sustainability. He launched a YouTube channel, sharing insights and personal narratives about the 'kept man' lifestyle, and even plans to introduce a 'Kept Man Training Course' to impart his expertise to aspiring young men. Despite facing controversy, he proudly defended his unconventional career: 'I could never hold a traditional job; it's simply impossible for me. Wealthy women are all talented and beautiful, and their voices are enchanting. I absolutely love being supported by them.' 'For me, providing happiness to affluent women is the most fulfilling endeavour! Living off a rich woman – this is the career I aspire to!' Ikoma's experiences have sparked heated discussions online, with public opinions divided sharply. One individual commented: 'Everyone has their own aspirations. At least he is not breaking the law but earning money through legitimate skills!' Conversely, another criticised: 'Society's morals are deteriorating; shouldn't this behaviour be condemned and ridiculed?' More from South China Morning Post: For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2025.
The Mainichi
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Mainichi
Drama film crew's lighting leaves scorch mark on cultural property in Japan's Maebashi
MAEBASHI -- Heat from lighting equipment used to film a drama has left a scorch mark on the floor of Rinkokaku, a national important cultural property in this eastern Japan city, the municipal government said April 24. The 12-centimeter diameter scorch mark was made during a drama was filmed by internet television station AbemaTV, based in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward. The filming has reportedly been temporarily halted. According to the city's cultural property protection division, a floorboard of a wooden corridor outside a large hall on the second floor of Rinkokaku's annex was damaged. The incident occurred at around 8 a.m. on April 23, during equipment setup. One of the lighting units overheated, melting a blue tarp laid on the floor, apparently after the power wasn't turned off. This was the second filming session since April 16. Though another session was scheduled for the end of this month, the municipal government has revoked permission following this incident until safety measures can be assured. The city plans to report the incident to the Gunma Prefectural Government and the Agency for Cultural Affairs and discuss repair plans. Rinkokaku was built during the Meiji era (1868-1912) as a guesthouse and was designated as a national important cultural property in 2018. (Japanese original by Sakae Kato, Maebashi Bureau)
