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.