The nightless city; or, The "history of the Yoshiwara Yūkwaku"

by J. E. De Becker

The Europeanization of the Yoshiwara and the Introduction of Loochooan Courtesans.

The origin of the addition of r� (樓 = a two-storied or “high� house) to the names of brothels is traced back to the Go-mei-r� (五明樓) which was another name for the “Ōgiya� of the Shin Yoshiwara about the era of Temmei (1781–1786). In the pre-Restoration days no houses were allowed which exceeded two stories in height, but since the beginning of the Meiji (the present) era changes have been introduced into the architecture of brothels and several magnificent and commodious houses have been built in a hybrid European style. The T�ky�-kaikwa-hanj�-shi (�京開化�昌誌) states:—

“At the time of the Restoration, high and commodious buildings, such as had never been seen even in the mansions of nobles, were constructed in the European fashion, etc., etc.� Illustrations of the Kimpei-r� and the Go-sei-r� in the European style are given.

In the “Shin-Yoshiwara-Zensei-kurabe-Sh�gi-hy�ban-ki�, (新�原全盛競娼妓評判記) published in 1870, is a passage which reads:—“Houses were built in the Western fashion and many rare and delicate things were placed on the table� (sic.)

The adoption of foreign costume by prostitutes was first introduced by the Yamada-r� of Ageya-machi in 1886, and later on this example was followed by the Shin-Inaben-r� and several other houses, but before long the new fashion fell into disfavour and was abandoned. When the “foreign craze� was at its height, the Yamada-r� provided foreign bedsteads for the women, and served up food in foreign dishes; but they never got so far as knives and forks, and although the plates were of a Western pattern one was expected to eat the viands with the cedarwood chopsticks provided!!! The Yamada-r� seems to be great on new sensations, for in 1889 that house engaged two or three Loochooan women as courtesans. This novel departure filled the house for a time, but before long the novelty wore off and the lovely Loochooans ceased to be an attraction.

Zegen.
(Procurers.)

There may be various causes which compel many an unfortunate girl to plunge into the “sea of trouble and bitterness� (ku-gai), and out of each the enterprising novelist and feuilleton writer has over and over again constructed a peg on which to hang his story, but, when all is said and done, the cause of causes is poverty. Nowadays, the police regulations are so stringent that it is virtually impossible for persons to traffic in human flesh and blood and sell their fellow-creatures, but in former times there were rascally scoundrels known as “zegen� who made a regular business of procuring, selling, and buying women. These infamous pimps not only extorted outrageous fees for their services but treated their victims in a most cruel brutal manner, and they even had the temerity to kidnap young innocent girls for the purpose of selling them to brothels. Even the officials of the Bakufu (Tokugawa Government) were startled out of their perfunctory method of doing things when they realized the danger these pestilent fellows were to the community, and in the 5th month of the 4th year of Kwansei (1792) the following notification was issued by the government prohibiting procurers from exercising their nefarious calling:—

“Among those people living in this City who make it their business to find positions for men and women desiring to obtain employment are parties known as zegen or naka-tsugi. The plan of action adopted by these individuals is to engage women for a specified number of years at certain fixed wages, although at the time there is in fact no opening offering. In the written memorandums of agreement entered into, it is provided that even should the women thus hired be employed in such disgraceful or low positions as meshimori (lower class prostitutes kept in inns under the guise of servants) menial servants, or in any other capacities whatsoever, they shall have no grounds for raising objections or complaints of any kind on that account. Under these circumstances it is not usual for zegen to keep women on their hands for long, and if no suitable situation be found within a short time they sell and transfer the girls to other zegen for a certain sum of money. The zegen also prolong the period of service contracted for with the result that the parents do not know when to expect their daughters back. In this manner the whereabouts of many women are lost, and their parents or relatives are compelled to apply to the authorities to search for and discover them and cause their restitution. It is also reported that sometimes zegen extort money from parties seeking relatives, and from the proprietors of brothels, and thus matters are arranged and compromised privately without referring them to the authorities. These practices are tantamount to traffic in human beings and are highly reprehensible, therefore the profession of zegen or naka-tsugi is hereby prohibited. This law is to be strictly observed.�

In the official rules relative to deeds of engagement of courtesans issued in the 7th year of Kwansei (1797)—that is four years after the issue of the above notification—occurred the following clauses:—

“1.—When a brothel engages a new courtesan through the medium of a professional (kuchi-ire no mono = a person who finds situations for would-be employés, and employés for would-be employers) full enquiries shall be privately instituted as to whether the woman has been kidnapped or otherwise, her birth-place, status, position, etc. Also as to whether she is a real or adopted child of her reputed parents. Enquiries shall also be made as to the status, residence, etc., of her surety. These matters must be thoroughly investigated previous to entering into a contract of engagement: the enquiries are to be made through the medium of third parties and not from the said middleman himself, and if the woman be actually engaged the above-mentioned details shall be entered into the nanushi’s book. The term of engagement arranged must not exceed twenty years.

“2.—The profession of zegen and naka-tsugi having been prohibited in the 4th month of the 4th year of Kwansei (the year of the “Ox�) on the application of interested parties the authorities rendered the following decision:—

“Whereas heretofore there have been numerous instances of zegen and naka-tsugi having signed and sealed documents as sureties for courtesans under the pretence that they were relatives of the women, it is hereby decreed that, on and after the 5th month of the present year, when the period of service has expired (as mentioned in the separate bonds of guarantee handed to their masters) the ex-courtesans shall not be given over to their sureties but to their own actual blood relations, and it is further ordered that the proprietors of brothels are to assist the time-expired women in the matter of placing them in the charge of such actual blood relations as aforesaid.

“Should any zegen residing within the precincts of the Yoshiwara receive applications direct from women seeking employment as courtesans, such zegen shall conduct the applicants to a brothel for the purpose of introducing them to an employer. When engagements are finally concluded the zegen shall not (as formerly) seal the agreements inasmuch that he is only permitted to act as a mere introducer between the parties.

“3.—Should the number of middlemen in the Yoshiwara be limited, the profession would become a monopoly, and to prevent the selling and buying of the goodwill of the trade, as well as to prevent any dishonest practices, an agreement was lodged by each middleman with the nanushi. The latter has been in the habit of reminding the middlemen of the contents of this contract once in every month, and obtaining their signatures each time in proof of his having done so. Of late, persons plying a similar profession have appeared in the vicinity of the Yoshiwara, but have remained outside the enclosure. This is contrary to the notification and makes it difficult to exercise proper control over them, therefore they shall be compelled to move into the Yoshiwara under pain of having the exercise of their profession suspended. Henceforth all persons desirous of carrying on the business of a middleman shall only be allowed to do so inside the gates of the quarter.�

From the above it would appear that the profession was not altogether abolished, and that it was merely concentrated in the Yoshiwara for the purpose of enforcing a strict control over zegen and naka-tsugi. Even these regulations were relaxed in course of time, and by the era of Temp� (1830–1843) there were over ten houses carrying on the business of zegen in Tamachi, Asakusa, and Sanya. Among these, the most famous was the establishment of Ōmiya Sampachi, as he employed ten or more kobun (partly employé and partly protégé) who, in conjunction with the provincial zegen, freely resorted to the practice of kidnapping girls. These zegen sent agents into the country to buy, beg, borrow, or steal, women and girls, whom they brought back and locked up securely till the moment of their absolute transfer into the hands of brothel-keepers. How they maltreated the poor wretches whom they had kidnapped may be inferred from the fact that the owners of these “registry offices� were in the habit of stripping the girls absolutely naked every night, and hiding their clothes under their own futon (mattress) lest the unhappy victims should escape. When the women were about to be sold to the brothels with whom the men had made previous arrangements, they were nicely dressed in hired clothes (in order to make them appear to better advantage and thus enhance the selling price) and taken round as “goods on view.� Then followed protracted negotiations between the parties interested, each haggling over the bargain like a fish-monger and a house-wife, the zegen trying to squeeze out as much money as possible from the intending buyer, and the brothel-keeper endeavouring to beat him down. At length the price would be settled to the satisfaction of both the buyer and seller, but even then there would generally ensue a struggle relative to the payment of mizu-kin, or rebate allowed to the buyer as a fund with which to provide the woman with an outfit. (Some people say that this word should be mizu-kin �見金 = money without seeing because the money was never seen by the parents but deducted immediately by the brothel-keeper). Another version says that is a corruption of mi-tsuki-kin (身付金 = money attached to the body) because with this money the clothes and personal effects of the woman were supposed to be purchased. When a girl was sold as a prostitute, a certificate—called a nenki sh�mon (年季證文)—was given by the parents to the brothel-keeper. It ran (freely translated) as follows:—

Name of the girl ______________

Age ______________

This ______________ (name) residing at ________________ daughter of ______________ you ______________, owner of ____________ brothel, agree to take into your employ for ___________ years at the price of ________________ ry�.

_______________ ry� you retain as “mizu-kin�__________ ry�, the balance, I have received.

I guarantee that the girl will not cause you trouble while in your employ.

She is of the _________________ sect, her ancestral temple being the _____________ in _________ street.

Parents name ___________________

Guarantor ______________________

Landlord _______________________

_____________________ Name of “teishu.�

_____________________________ “j�roya.�

It must be understood that many of these documents were “fakes� as regards the signatures of the parent and of the landlord of the parents’ house. So long as some persons were found to act as the necessary parties, the papers were signed and stamped, and in exchange for such an instrument the mi-no-shiro-kin (price of the body) was paid over in hard cash on strictly business principles. The “parcel of goods� having been taken delivery of by the brothel keeper, the zegen appropriated 10 per cent as his commission, but besides that they generally managed to obtain further sums of money on various pretexts, including hone-ori-kin (money for labour performed) ifuku no son-ry� (hire of clothes), makanai-ry� (expenses for food and lodging), etc., etc. [In passing, it may be noted that in zegen circles a girl who had been kidnapped was known by the name of “Inari� (really the Goddess of Rice, but in popular superstition the fox-deity) which is perhaps the reason why people often call courtesans “kitsune� (foxes)].

As already mentioned, the Kwansei (1789–1800) notification prohibiting the improper selling of women by zegen had very little practical effect, but on the 2nd October, 1872 (2nd day of the 10th month of the 5th year of Meiji) the Japanese Government earned the everlasting gratitude of right-thinking persons by issuing Decree No. 295 which ordered the unconditional liberation of all prostitutes throughout the length and breadth of the Empire. This Decree reads, according to the official translation, as follows:—

“Whereas transactions involving the sale of persons and their entire subjection to the will of their masters for life or for a period are contrary to the principles of humanity, and in consequence have been prohibited from olden times; and whereas the actual condition of persons heretofore hired for a term of years as servants, or in any other capacity, virtually amounts to servitude, therefore all such transactions are henceforth strictly prohibited.

“It shall be admissible for any persons to bind themselves as apprentices for the purpose of acquiring practical training in agriculture, trade, or art. Nevertheless the term of such apprenticeship shall in no case exceed seven years, after the expiration of which, such term may be prolonged with the consent of both parties.

“In the case of ordinary servants or employés the terms of service shall be limited to one year; and if the service be continued after the expiration of that period the agreements shall be renewed.

“The release of all prostitutes, singing girls, and other persons bound to serve for any term of years, is hereby ordered, and it is further directed that no suits relating to debts incurred by, or on account of such persons, shall be entertained.�

NOTIFICATION ISSUED IN OCT., 1872, (5th YEAR OF MEIJI) BY THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.
No. 22.

(PUBLISHED BROADCAST.)

“Whereas on the second day of this month the Council of State issued a decree No. 295, persons are hereby notified relative to the same and are to bear in mind the following articles:—

Although the sale of persons has been forbidden from olden days yet persons are hired for periods under various names, but in reality this “hiring� constitutes a “sale� and it is considered that the capital of persons hiring prostitutes, singing girls, &c., is equivalent to stolen money, therefore should any person complain about the foregoing, upon investigation the whole of the money in dispute shall be confiscated by the Government.

As stated above, prostitutes and singing girls having lost the rights of human beings, they may likened to cattle (gyū-ba ni kotonarazu = they do not differ from oxen and horses.) There is no sense for human beings to endeavour to exact repayment from cattle!

Therefore no payment shall be demanded from prostitutes or singing girls for any moneys lent or debts due and in arrear hitherto, but it is provided that as regards transactions subsequent to the 2nd day of the present month, such prohibition ceases.

Persons who for money considerations cause girls to become prostitutes and singing girls under the pretext that such girls are their adopted daughters, are actually trafficking in human bodies, and will hereafter be severely dealt with.�

[Since then, detailed regulations have been established relating to the profession of prostitutes and are still in operation]. The losses sustained by the brothel-keepers at the time of this wholesale liberation of women are said to have been simply enormous. The “T�ky�-Kwaika Hanj�-shi� (�京開化�昌誌) has the following under the caption of “Liberation of Courtesans�:—“In the winter of 1872, all the prostitutes and geisha who had been engaged in the brothels and inns throughout the country were unconditionally set free. * * * * * Thousands of wretched women (whose lives might be compared to those of birds cooped up in cages) having been suddenly liberated, the confusion caused by the crowds of delighted parents and daughters who thronged the prostitute quarters beggars description. * * * * * Notwithstanding the general rejoicing, owing to being in debt, or to other circumstances, a large number of these unfortunates were compelled to apply for new licenses and to continue their calling in the brothels which were now re-named kashi-zashiki (貸座敷 = a house with rooms to let).� From the above remarks the actual condition of affairs at the time may well be imagined.

The old fashioned style of zegen (procurer) have now disappeared, and most of the women desirous of becoming courtesans are hired through yatoinin-kuchi-ire-jo (Registry offices for persons seeking situations). By law these registry offices are forbidden to negotiate such transactions, but it is well known that this prohibition cannot be enforced in practice. The brothel-keeper, or his substitute, attends to the engaging of women, and is always on the look out for “bargains.� In the same manner that vultures swoop down to feast on the dead bodies of soldiers after a sanguinary battle, so these rascally fellows turn the misfortunes of others to their own profit by visiting localities which have been overtaken by terrible natural calamity. Earthquakes, fires, floods, and bad crops are the natural allies, of the brothel-keepers, as is proved by actual statistics. For instance, out of the present 3,000 inmates of the Yoshiwara fully 40 per cent. are natives of Gifu and Aichi Prefectures, and we know quite well that these localities have suffered severely from earthquakes, floods, and bad seasons of late years. It is said that when a particular district is visited by some serious misfortune the various brothel-keepers proceed to the spot in order to see what game they can bag at cheap rates.