THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NIGHTLESS CITY.

Since the first edition of the “Nightless City� was published in June 1899, many changes tending to ameliorate the condition of prostitutes have been made in the Japanese laws, and the writer believes it may be of more than a passing interest to foreign readers to be presented with a brief digest of the minute regulations at present governing the Yoshiwara in T�ky�.

One word of warning is, however, essential as a preliminary to what follows. Taken as a whole, the rules are apparently well drafted and seemingly just, but let not the reader be deceived by their plausible provisions!

It must be remembered that, in a place inhabited by those whose business is the unholy trade in human flesh and human honour, there cannot be, broadly speaking, much room for benevolent sentiments and deeds of mercy! Be assured that in the so-called “Nightless City,� populated as it is by heartless bestial men and abandoned shameless women, and frequented by bully, habitual criminal, and the scum of creation, no laws or regulations, however wise or humane, can be made completely effective! Notwithstanding all that has been, and is being done, the Yoshiwara is a very inferno of black despair, for it is the common resort of the most wicked and depraved of the male part of the community who hold high carnival within its precincts. Once entrapped in this grave of modesty and virtue—this home of concentrated debauchery and sexual perversion—a woman becomes a virtual slave to the brothel-keepers, many of whom set the law at defiance within the four walls of their unhallowed dens, and, aided by toadying satellites, terrorize and oppress the unfortunate females doomed to spend years of misery with none but shameless libertines and strumpets for their associates! Someone may ask—“If these women have legal rights, why don’t they appeal to the police or to the Courts?� The question is easily answered. Some few do, and out of these a certain number obtain relief; but the majority suffer in silence owing to the very force of circumstances and environment. Most are—naturally—quite uneducated, do not know their rights, and are moreover possessed with a vague indefinable sense of terror which prevents them from making a struggle for independence. Others again, from a false sense of duty towards relatives and friends (who have made themselves liable for debts contracted with the brothel-keepers), refrain from making complaints or raising trouble; and above all, the ancient customs of the quarter die hard and hold the victims in their relentless clutches. The police, from their familiarity with this class of women, are more or less harsh and unsympathetic, and, to crown all, even the Supreme Court of the Empire—to the unspeakable disgrace, of the judges—has decided that debts incurred by prostitutes, although based upon a clearly immoral consideration, are binding upon the women and their guarantors! With the above preface, we will proceed to describe the present system of control in force in the Yoshiwara, which is the largest and most important of the brothel-quarters in the T�ky� Urban Prefecture, and therefore a typical institution.

The general status of persons engaged in the practice of prostitution is defined in detail by Notification No. 44 “Regulations for the Control of Prostitutes� issued by the Home Office on the 2nd October, 1900, under the signature of the late Marquis Saigo Tsugumichi, then Minister of State for Home Affairs. This Notification applies to the whole Empire, but various supplementary rules ancillary thereto provide for the control of prostitute quarters in the different prefectures. The regulations prescribe (inter alia) that no female under eighteen years of age can either become a licensed prostitute or pursue her calling until her name has been actually inscribed on a “Register of Prostitutes� (Sh�gi Meib�) to be kept in the Police Station having jurisdiction within the locality, and that all women thus registered are subject to the control of the Police authorities.

In order to safeguard inexperienced applicants as far as possible, females desirous to prostitute themselves are required to appear personally at the Police Station, where they are closely interrogated and warned against taking the fatal step. They are then required to file a document giving full details as to the following matters, viz:—

(1)The reason and necessity for becoming a prostitute.
(2)The date of birth.
(3)As to whether the consent of her nearest ascendant relative, or the head of her family, has been obtained.
(4)As to whether (in the case of a minor) the consent of her real father, or failing him the consent of either her (a) real mother, (b) real grandfather, or (c) real grandmother (in the preferential order given) has been obtained.
(5)The place where she proposes to engage in prostitution.
(6)Residence subsequent to registration.
(7)Present means of livelihood; and if supported by some other person, the facts.
(8)As to whether she has previously practised prostitution or not, and, if so, the date of commencement and relinquishment; the place, her former residence, and the reason for her having discontinued the business.
(9)Special name to be adopted by the prostitute while in the brothel.
(10)The proposed term of service.
(11)Any supplementary details specially demanded by the Authorities in the various Prefectures.

To further guard against fraud and forgery, the above application must, in every case, be accompanied by:—

(1)A copy of personal registration (koseki-t�hon) certified to by the Registrar.
(2)Documents of consent (sh�daku-sho) signed and sealed by the proper parties.
(3)Certificates of the seals of the consenting parties (sh�daku-sha no inkan sh�mei-sho) duly verified by the heads of cities (shi), districts (ku), towns (ch�) or villages (son).

The Police may, in the exercise of their free discretion, refuse to enroll any applicant, but, when the application is granted, the woman is bound to submit to a preliminary medical examination at the hands of the physician on duty in accordance with the rules in force in the various administrative districts.