Taka-o.
The first Taka-o flourished in the period of the former (moto) Yoshiwara, and was called My�shin Taka-o. She was also known as Ko-mochi Taka-o (child-bearing Taka-o) as she used to promenade attended by a wet-nurse who carried the child of which she had been delivered.
The second Taka-o was known as Daté Taka-o.
The third Taka-o was “Saij� Taka-o� who was redeemed by one Saij� Kichiyemon (a retainer of Kii Chūnagon) and taken by him to his native province (Kii). Another account says that she was redeemed by Saij� Kichibei, a gold-lacquer painter at the Sh�gun’s Court.
The fourth Taka-o was called “Asano Taka-o.� It is said that she was redeemed either by Asano Iki-no-Kami or Asano Inaba-no-Kami, both of whom were daimy�. According to the list of daimy� published in the 4th year of Meireki (1658), Asano Iki-no-Kami seems to have been the grandson of the well-known Asano Nagamasa.
The fifth Taka-o was called “Midzutani Taka-o.� She was redeemed by Midzutani Rokubei, a banker to the Prince of Mito. Later she eloped with a servant of Mizutani—an old man 68 years of age. Then she married Handayū Ry�-un, and next became the concubine of Makino Suruga no Kami (a daimy�), but she again eloped with one of the latter’s attendants named K�no Heima. Next we see her as the wife of a hair-dresser at Fukagawa, then the wife of an actor named Sodeoka Masanosuke, and then that of an oil dealer at Mikawa-ch�. The career of this much-married woman was brought to a close by her sudden death in the street in front of the Dai-on-ji temple.
The sixth Taka-o was called “Da-zome Taka-o,� and was redeemed by a dyer named Jirobei. She is said to have been a very beautiful woman who surpassed all her predecessors except the fifth, (whose immoral behaviour we have just noticed) to have been a skilful writer (one of the necessary accomplishments of a lady) and to have been of a quiet and gentle disposition. With her lady-like accomplishments and graceful manner she was fitted by nature to become the wife of a gentleman of position, and yet she married Jirobei although the latter was not only in humble circumstances but noted for being a rare specimen of ugliness. The strange union, however, proved a great success as the pair lived on most happy and affectionate terms. The history of their marriage was briefly as follows. Jirobei, who was a dyer working in his master’s shop, one day went out to the Yoshiwara with his comrades to see the promenading of yūjo. On this occasion he first saw his future wife, and, being greatly struck by her beauty and graceful demeanour, he thought if he could only approach her the one wish of his whole life would be gratified. At that time, however, the engagement of so superior a yūjo by a common artizan who made a hand-to-mouth living was, of course, out of the question and Jirobei felt desperate. The matter preyed on his mind to such an extent that when he returned to his master’s house he looked so melancholy and depressed that his appearance attracted the attention of his employer. Unable to conceal his secret, he unbosomed himself to his master, and the latter encouraged him to work diligently and save money enough to engage the yūjo, as it was, after all, only a matter of money. For more than a year Jirobei worked very hard both by day and night, and by dint of great economy managed to save enough cash to pay the age-dai of a yūjo of Taka-o’s class. The very moment that he had sufficient money he hurried off to the Yoshiwara, as he feared that should he wait too long the object of his love might be redeemed by somebody and thus be lost to him for ever. Entering the quarter dressed in his workman’s attire, and looking dirty and uncouth with his unkempt hair and stubbly beard, he experienced considerable trouble in approaching Taka-o, but finally he succeeded in meeting her and disclosed everything without reserve. Her woman’s heart was greatly moved by this proof of loving sincerity, and she finally promised to marry him when her term of engagement expired. This promise she afterwards faithfully redeemed, and Jirobei then opened a dyer’s shop on his own account in the city, and became very prosperous in after years. It seems that Jirobei was not a success as a dyer as he was unskilful in the technique of his trade, but his business prospered on account of the many people who patronized his establishment in order to catch a glimpse of the famous and romantic beauty.
It is not on record as to who redeemed the seventh Taka-o. Some persons mistake the seventh for “Sakakibara Takao.� In the Mi-ura record the sixth is erroneously mentioned as the “Sakakibara Takao.� The eight and ninth appear to have had successful careers in the Yoshiwara, but they were apparently not redeemed by people of note as no record exists on this point.
The tenth Taka-o seems to have appeared in the Yoshiwara either in the 13th or 14th year of Ky�h� (1728 or 1729).