In the rooms of the yūjo were set out artificial representations of the seven kinds of autumn flowers to represent an autumnal field, or a sudare of glass was hung in front of the shelf by way of ornament. At first liliputian (boy) actors, and puppet showmen, etc., were called into brothels to give entertainments on these nights, but later on this custom disappeared. During the greater part of the eighth month, commencing on the 1st day, the festival of Kurosuke Inari was celebrated, and the Yoshiwara then presented a very lively spectacle in consequence of the exhibition of cars, filled with dancers and musicians (neri mono), which were drawn about the streets. Up to the Bunkwa era (1804–1817) bamboo branches were set up on either side of the �-mon (great gateway) and shime-nawa[50] were hung upon them. Throughout this month yūjo who were proficient in singing and dancing took part in niwaka[51] dancing for the amusement of the general public whenever the weather was fine.
The first day of the 9th month being considered a day of good omen (kashin) every brothel celebrated it in an appropriate manner. On the 9th day of the same month, another day of good omen, called the ch�y� no sekku,[52] chrysanthemum blossoms soaked in saké were eaten. This custom was borrowed from China.
On the 12th, 13th, and 14th, moon-viewing parties were held as in the previous month, and those guests who had been present at a party on the eighth month were under obligation to again take part in this second observance, as the yūjo evinced much aversion to kata-mi-dzuki (a partial moon-viewing). The second “moon-viewing� was known as (nochi no tsuki-mi). In the 9th year of Bunkwa (1812) chrysanthemums were planted in the Naka-no-ch� for the first time: this was repeated several times in succeeding years but, probably owing to the show not being sufficiently interesting to draw any large number of fresh guests, it was eventually abandoned as too expensive a practice.
On and after the first “wild boar� day of the 10th month the big braziers (�-hibachi) were brought out in every brothel, and summer clothing was changed to that of winter. The festival of Ebisuk� fell on the 20th day, and banquets were giving throughout the quarter: the yūjo had a holiday on this occasion, but some of the most popular of them were accustomed to invite certain familiar guests as they were proud enough to consider it rather a disgrace to allow such an interruption of the exercise of their profession.
The hi-busé, or “fire preventing festival� took place on the 8th day of the 11th month, when oranges were scattered about the gardens of the j�roya and scrambled for by children. On this night, lanterns were lighted throughout the Yoshiwara. On the 17th and 18th, what was called the Aki-ha-matsuri (festival) took place. In front of the large street lamp at Suid�-jiri, dealers in various articles erected temporary sheds for the sale of their wares, and the neighbourhood was crowded by yūjo and other people. On every “day of the bird� in this month all the gates of the Yoshiwara were thrown open, and the Tori-no-ichi festival was held in the quarter. On this night large numbers of persons thronged the quarter and formed an immense and surging crowd. The origin of the Tori-no-ichi festival is stated in another chapter.
On the 8th day of the 12th month “kotohajime�, or New Year’s preparations, began, and on the 13th was the regular susu-harai or general house-cleaning, but, as a matter of fact, the susu-harai was generally finished earlier than that date. The 17th and 18th days of the 12th month being “market days� (ichi) of the Asakusa Kwannon, a larger number of persons than usual visited the Yoshiwara, and the brothel keepers sent men to the market to purchase paper images of Daruma which they placed on the main pillars of their houses for good-luck. After the 20th, the making of mochi (rice-cake) commenced at each house, and firemen from Minowa, Kanasugi, Sanya, Imado, and vicinity, came to render assistance in pounding the mochi of those brothels which usually patronized them. In return for this assistance, the yūjo were in the habit of giving these firemen new hanten, momohiki and tenugui as presents of the season. This custom is said to have been originated by Ch�zan of Ch�ji-ya during the H�reki era (1751–1763). The following verses of a song while pounding mochi may be of interest:—
“I can hear your voice but cannot see you. You are really like a cricket that chirps in the field.�
“If you live in Owari while your wife lives in Mino, you will naturally long for the latter province even though there be no rain.�[53]
“Even a ship which is slowly sailing on the sea quickens its speed if beckoned by a courtesan.�