During the Edo period, there existed officially sanctioned red-light districts in Edo (Tokyo). Let’s take a look at where it is located and the fate of those who lived there.
Understand in 1 minute about Yoshiwara
Not only Geisha
Modern day Geisha / Maiko
When many people think of courtesans in Japan, Geisha and Maiko come to mind. Highly trained in singing, dance, instruments, and entertainment, they can still be seen walking the streets of Kyoto and are the subjects of many paintings and woodblock prints.
However, Geisha, although mostly likely indentured servants and forced into the role, were not the only courtesans to serve in the red light districts in Japan. Broadly referred to as 遊女 yuujo (meaning a fun lady, or a woman you can enjoy your time with), geisha, oiran, and other sorts and levels of prostitutes worked as prostitutes in red light districts in feudal Japan.
The only time courtesans were able to leave Yoshiwara was if a patron paid a huge sum to have her spend the whole night with him, and for ohanami (cherry blossom viewing) in the spring time.
Yoshiwara
Originally, the area now known as Yoshiwara was located near Nihonbashi-ingyocho, which was covered with dense reeds (Yoshi), hence the name Yoshiwara (“Yoshi” meaning reeds and “wara” meaning field). Due to major fires in the vicinity, it was rebuilt in its current location behind Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. Because of this, the Yoshiwara in Ningyocho became known as Moto-Yoshiwara (Old Yoshiwara), while the one in Asakusa became known as Shin-Yoshiwara (New Yoshiwara).
Just to be clear, Yoshiwara has been burnt down or has caught fire numerous times throughout history. Whether through arson or earthquakes, fires were so common a regular occurrence and it is hard to keep track the exact number.
The Brothel at Yoshiwara black and white postcard
Former Yoshiwara before it was burned down.
The entrance to the Yoshiwara red-light district was only through the Yoshiwara Oomon gate. There was only one entrance for a reason. We will get to that a bit later.
Map of Yoshiwara. Notice the think black line that represents the wall and the one entrance to the right.
The gate used to be decorated beautifully, however it became more subdued in the modern era.
Omon Gate Yoshiwara Tokyo Taisho
The entrance to Yoshiwara after the great fire of 1911
Yoshiwara before and after the great fire.
Yoshiwara has been completely burnt down many times.
Yoshiwara Then and Now
The name “Mikaeri Yanagi” (Looking-back Willow) comes from the story of customers returning from their visits to the red-light district, feeling a tug at their heartstrings, and looking back at the district around this willow tree.
Patrons looking back at the “Mikaeri Yanagi” (Looking-back Willow) after a good night in Yoshiwara.
Although prostitution is technically illegal in Japan, sexual services can still be found. The area that used to be called Yoshiwara, now Senzoku 4-Chome in Taito ward, Tokyo, is still known as being a red light districts, full of brothels and soaplands.
Human Trafficking and Slavery
Most courtesans were forced to work in a form of indentured servitude. They were released after working for a certain period of time or if they could repay the amount paid for them (or have it paid off by a patron). The release rate was said to be about 80%, however many courtesans suffered from infections like sexually transmitted diseases, malnutrition, and poor health due to unsanitary living conditions in the group. The courtesans were also victims of extortion, with their owners adding on bogus charges to the initial sum that they were working to pay off, making their debt harder or impossible to pay back.
They weren’t allowed to leave the red-light district while they were indentured, and it wasn’t uncommon for exhausted courtesans, worn down by harsh daily labor and mental stress, to set fire to the brothels.
They are behind bars for a reason.
At the time, arsonists were sentenced to death by burning at the stake, but there’s a prevailing theory that no courtesan received this punishment because the brothel’s punishment was so severe that it spared them from the punishment. Records show that heavy penalties were imposed on brothel owners rather than the actual arsonist courtesans.
The first two outlaws in this clip’s stories take place in Yoshiwara:
Hirai Gonpachi – The romantic outlaw and samurai who captivated Edo with his charm and tragic love story with a Yoshiwara courtesan.
Yaoya Oshichi – A young girl courtesan whose story of forbidden love and fiery passion led to her tragic fate, making her a symbol of love and sacrifice.
Leaving Yoshiwara
There’s also a point raised that older courtesans who had lost their market value or those nearing the end of their lives were effectively dismissed or expelled through the abandonment of their indenture by the establishments. This was done to avoid the hassle of funerals and similar procedures, making their release more of a practical termination rather than a formal completion of their indenture.
Some courtesans spent their entire lives in the red-light district. As they aged and their work as courtesans became more difficult, some were re-employed as “yari-te” (assistants), “meshi-taki” (cooks), or “nui-ko” (seamstresses).
The dead bodies of those who violated the rules of Yoshiwara, such as committing “shinju” (double suicide), “makura-arahi” (stealing from clients’ wallets), excessive “kiseibumi” (love letters to favorite clients), “ashinuke” (escape), “mittsuu” (illicit affairs within the district), or smoked opium, were stripped naked, wrapped in straw mats, and thrown into the Jokanji temple. This was based on the superstition that burying them as humans would bring curses, so they were treated like animals and sent to the realm of beasts according to the Buddhist cycle of reincarnation.
Even the courtesans who did none of the above were routinely thrown into Jokanji Temple. They often had no families and brothel owners did not want to pay for a burial for a prostitute.
According to Jokanji Temple, it earned the nickname “Nagekomi-dera” or “Throw-in Temple” after the Ansei Edo Earthquake on November 11, 1855, when over 600 courtesans died, and their bodies were thrown into the temple for burial.
