Digest of the Regulations of the Yoshiwara Guild.
General.—In December 1901, in accordance with Article 26 of the Metropolitan Police Board Notification No 37, issued in 1900, the brothel-keepers, introducing-tea-house-keepers, and prostitutes of the Yoshiwara established a Guild, and in February 1904 the rules of this Guild were revised.
Object.—The object of the association is to secure and maintain intimate relations between its members, to protect the common interests of the “trade,� and to preserve ancient picturesque customs of the quarter.
Director.—The Guild, which has its office at No. 462 Ni-ch�-me, Senzoku-machi, Asakusa district, T�ky� City, is governed by a Director (tori-shimari) and a Vice-Director (fukutori-shimari) both of whom are elected, by means of an open ballot, by the members, all of whom enjoy the “franchise.�
When the number of votes is equal the individual who is senior in birth is deemed to be elected, and when the dates of birth are identical the vote is decided by lot. The term of office is two years, and in case of a vacancy occurring a by-election is held. The Director has a staff of clerks and other employees under his control.
Undertaking by Members.—Persons joining the Guild are required to subscribe to the articles of association and to give a written promise to observe the same. Moreover the new member has to provide a guarantor who will actually make performance of his duties should he himself fail to do so. Guarantors must be persons in the same line of “business,� and the brothel-keepers have to guarantee the prostitutes belonging to their respective houses.
Contracts to be Submitted to Director.—All financial arrangements relative to contracts entered into between the brothel-keepers and prostitutes have to be reported to the Director under the joint signatures of the parties.
Pass-Books.—The brothel-keepers and the women are required to prepare and keep pass-books in the following form, and to send in the same (duly entered up) for the approval of the Director before the 10th of every month:—
Entries in this book are to be made for one year from the _______________ 19__ to the _______________ 19__.
Name of prostitute _______________
Date __________________________
| Total | Yen |
| Fee for one entertainment out of which | Yen |
| (1) Portion of the Keeper |  “ |
| (2) Portion of the woman |  “ |
Agreement relative to the income of the woman of ____________ out of the fee for one entertainment as shown in the above division, has been duly notified to the Police Station.
As to the pocket-money ____________ for each entertainment fee, it will be paid at the time of accounting.
Number of entertainments ____________
| Yen | Sen | |
| Entertainment fees | ||
| Actual amount to be paid to the woman | ||
| To be applied to the interest on loan for (name of month) | ||
| Pocket money of the woman | ||
| Applied to repayment of debit balance in books | ||
| Balance is as follows:— | ||
| Loan | ||
| Advance in current a/c on the books | ||
| Total |
Changes in Membership, Etc.—All changes in regard to membership and movements of employees are notified to the members generally through the Director, and the members are bound not to engage discharged employees except with the consent of the former employers.
Precautions Against Fire.—To guard against fire, periodical examinations are made by an expert (appointed by the Director) of the kerosene oil used in lighting, and the use of oil of under 70° (C) is forbidden.
Power to Expel.—Persons infringing the rules of the Guild may be expelled by a resolution of a general meeting.
Revision of Articles.—The articles of association of the Guild may be revised by a general meeting called by the Director at the request of thirty members.
Brothel-Keepers Consultation Committee.—To protect their mutual benefit the brothel-keepers appoint a consultation committee (ky�gi-in) the members of which are elected in the same manner as the Directors. This committee may request the Director to call a meeting at any time.
Reports of Income.—Every day each brothel keeper is obliged to report his gross income, and number of guests entertained, to the Director.
Charges.—An entertainments tariff, legibly written, must be conspicuously displayed in every guest-chamber. This table must also include the prices of various refreshments provided. Persons who accompany guests, but who do not engage a woman, are charged half the amount of the highest fee charged for a woman.
Exhibition of Women.—Women may not be publicly exhibited in the “cages� after 1 o’clock a.m. from November to April, or after 2 o’clock a.m. from May to October; and in case of pregnancy are forbidden to practice their calling for three months before and after parturition.
Medical Expenses.—Brothel-keepers are required to pay daily to the accountant of the Guild for transmission to the hospital the charges incurred in consequence of any of their women undergoing medical treatment.
Brothels who may use Tea-Houses.—Brothels employing women whose fee is Yen 1.50 (U.S. $.75 or 3/- sterling) may do their business through tea-houses, but they are obliged to pay a commission to the latter.
Insurance of Accounts.—As an insurance against loss the brothel-keepers pay to a separately organized office, called the “Uke-harai-jo� one per cent of the amount of money received from tea-houses, and in return for this premium the “Uke-harai-jo� guarantees the tea-house accounts. All monies due to the brothels by tea-houses are paid to the “Uke-harai-jo� and not direct, and should any tea-house fail to meet its liabilities all business with such defaulting establishment is discontinued until settlement is made. In case of the tea-house people having committed any improper act, the brothel-keepers may boycott the tea-house and refuse to do business with its proprietors.
Expenses to be Defrayed by Brothel-Keepers.—Brothel-keepers have to bear the following expenses: (1) of the Yoshiwara Hospital; (2) of the office for the inspection of venereal diseases; (3) of the Director’s office; (4) of emergencies; (5) of displays and shows; (6) of meetings; (7) of salaries of Director and employees; (8) reserve fund. These expenses are estimated and passed by the Consulting Committee in May and November each year, and notified to the brothel-keepers through the Director. In January and July of every year the Director prepares and submits accounts for the previous term. A supplementary budget may be passed by the Consulting Committee, but if the expenditure is for an object not contemplated in the eight items mentioned above, the sanction of a general meeting of brothel-keepers must be obtained.
Accounts for Medicines.—Accounts for medicine must be settled at the latest by the 25th of each following month, but these drugs are supplied to members at half-price as compared with the prices charged by ordinary physicians to the general public.
Tea-house-keepers.—Introducing-tea-house-keepers appoint by ballot a Consulting Committee, two accountants and several nemban (“year guards.�) General meetings of tea-house-keepers are convened by the Director in accordance with resolutions of the Consulting Committee. Members of the tea-house fraternity deposit Yen 50 as a guarantee that they will pay accounts due to the brothels with whom they deal. The members must join the Uke-harai-jo or “clearing house� of the Guild, and all monies are paid to the brothels through its medium, and not direct. A commission of 10 (ten)% is charged to brothel-keepers on the gross sums of money paid to the latter by the tea-houses, but this is subject to alteration by agreement between the Committee and the brothel-keepers. Monthly statements of accounts relative to the number of guests, money received for refreshments and geisha fees, etc., must be sent to the Director by the 3rd of each following month. When tea-houses fail to meet their liabilities in respect to brothel accounts, the “clearing-house� (uke-harai-jo) makes good the amount, and the defaulter is either suspended or expelled.
Duties of Prostitutes.—Prostitutes belonging to the Guild are required to “take care of their health, be economical, and use their leisure time in study, sewing, etc., to the end that they may be prepared to resume their normal position in society.� They are expected to dress like ordinary women when outside the brothel-quarter, to maintain good relations with their comrades, to treat their guests fairly and show proper respect towards them, and not to refuse acceptance of guests unless for “valid reasons.�