A shadow gently peering into the mirror of a courtesan - Yoshiwara's breath reflected in a bald prank

A shadow gently peering into the mirror of a courtesan - Yoshiwara's breath reflected in a bald prank
Around the early 1800s

Behind the splendor of the Yoshiwara was the daily preparation of the oiran (courtesans), which continued uninterruptedly like a backstage scene. Sitting with their hair tied up, filling their smoking pipes with cigarettes, and reading letters from their customers were part of their work, but they were also moments when the human side of the oiran could be seen. In the early 1800s, after the prosperity of the Bunka and Bunsei periods, competition in the Yoshiwara was fierce, and the dress of the oiran was an important part of the job, directly related to the reputation of the customers and the power relationships among their patrons.

Serving at the side were the bald girls, young apprentices. The bald girls were in a position to learn the etiquette of oiran as future prostitutes, and their honest curiosity due to their young age softened the harsh atmosphere of the brothel in daily life. When the oiran looked down at her writing, the bald girl would take advantage of this brief moment to surreptitiously borrow a mirror and adjust her own hair. This gesture was innocent, but it was also a small moment of learning, a moment of longing for the oiran.

In Yoshiwara, the relationship between the oiran and the bald girl often seemed like that of a sisterhood, despite the fact that they were subordinates. While helping the oiran with her preparations, the bald girl gradually learned how to behave, how to use language, and how to respond to customers, and the oiran watched over her development and sometimes cared for her as emotional support. Therefore, such small pranks were rather accepted as a subtle warmth inserted into daily life.

In the genre paintings of the time, as well as in Yoshiwara Hosomi, bald girls are often depicted peering into a mirror or imitating the preparations of a courtesan behind her back. The sight of a young bald girl frantically adjusting her hair behind the luxurious costumes and lights symbolized the human warmth that lay behind the harshness of the brothel.

Another truth about Yoshiwara that cannot be conveyed only by the flamboyant processions of oiran and the glamorous entertainment in the tatami room. It is the fact that women supported each other and found moments of rest and relaxation in the slightest of laughter and mischief in their daily lives. This scene gently captures the quiet breath of Yoshiwara.