To a Western audience, the premise might feel melodramatic. But within Japan’s rigid social structures, Mama Katsu taps into very real anxieties.

"Mama Katsu Midareru Mama Tachi no Himitsu" translates to "Mama Katsu: The Secret of the Seductive Mothers" in English. It seems to be a Japanese adult video (AV) or a series that gained notoriety online.

The obvious secret is the act itself. Many of these women are married to high-powered executives. If their husbands discovered they were paying ¥50,000 to ¥200,000 per meeting to a university student or a host club boy, it would lead to divorce and social ruin.