The Flower that Blossomed in Edo Yoshiwara - Segawa of Matsubaya, His Glorious and Turbulent Life

The Flower that Blossomed in Edo Yoshiwara - Segawa of Matsubaya, His Glorious and Turbulent Life

In the Edo period (1603-1868), the prestigious brothel "Matsubaya" in Yoshiwara had a prostitute called "Segawa" for generations, especially Segawa V, who was known for her beauty and talent. She was abandoned by her parents when she was a child and taken in by Matsubaya, where she was raised. With her beautiful appearance and high education, she excelled in calligraphy, waka poetry, tea ceremony, shamisen (three-stringed Japanese banjo), and other arts, and eventually took over the name "Segawa" and became famous as a Yoshiwara courtesan.

In 1775, she was offered a huge sum of 1400 ryo (about 140 million yen in today's value) by a blind loan shark, Toriyama Kensaku, who had made a huge fortune. This astonishing sum was outstanding even in Yoshiwara at that time, and further enhanced Segawa's fame. However, his happiness was short-lived: in 1778, the shogunate confiscated Toriyama's property and banished him from Edo. The sudden loss of his protector also shook Segawa's fortunes.

There are various theories as to her subsequent whereabouts. Some say that she became the wife of a samurai, others say that she married a carpenter, but no reliable records remain. The fact that her life after her glamorous life as a prostitute is buried in the dark of history only adds to her enigmatic charm.

Segawa's tumultuous life was the subject of a fashionable book, "Kijo Kai Toranomaki," by the playwright Tarao Kingyo. This book, which describes in detail the manners of the brothels and interactions with prostitutes, was widely read by the common people of Edo. She is also attracting attention even today, and is to be portrayed as a childhood friend of Tsutaya Shigesaburo in NHK's 2025 historical drama "Belabo: Tsutaju Eika no Yume Banashi", in which she will appear under the name "Hana no I".

Segawa V was not only a woman of beauty, but also of strength and intelligence. Her story continues to attract many people today as she is an important figure in understanding the culture of brothels in the Edo period and the destiny that women were destined to bear.