Conversation between "bald" and "shinzo" prostitutes: Master-disciple exchange breathes life into the backstage of Yoshiwara

Conversation between "bald" and "shinzo" prostitutes: Master-disciple exchange breathes life into the backstage of Yoshiwara

In the Yoshiwara of the Edo period (1603-1868), the glamorous processions of oiran and entertainment in the tatami room attracted people's attention, but behind the scenes, there were "bald" and "shinzokos," or "shinzokos," who supported the oiran. The bald girls were generally between 7 and 12 years old and accompanied the oiran, taking care of the oiran's personal chores and servants. Shinzou were young girls who had grown up from bald girls before becoming full-fledged prostitutes, and learned the art and manners of the prostitute while assisting the oiran.

At the time, Yoshiwara was under the strict control of the shogunate, but the town was so lively that it was said that 1,000 ryo could be spent in a single night. Behind the glamor of the town, the bald and shinzo lived their daily lives while serving the oiran, and it is said that they sometimes exchanged conversations, out of sight of the customers, that were a mixture of tension and lightheartedness.

For example, if a bald man whispered, "Hey, that samurai looks like he has a heavy purse," while accompanying the oiran, the shinzo would reply, "But he looks rugged, so I must act politely so as not to spoil his good mood. Or, before entering the tatami room, the bald girl asks, "What song should I sing to please you?" to which the shinzo admonishes, "A chic kouta for Edo people and a refined dance for Kamigata people. There was a mixture of practical wisdom to support the oiran's prestige and frankness of speech due to their young age.

This master-disciple relationship was not merely a hierarchical one, but also a community of education and life. Baldy learned manners from Shinzo and the courtesans, and dreamed of eventually becoming a prostitute on her own. Shinzo, on the other hand, also learned from the oiran, and saw his own future in the same light. The conversations that ensued were "little stories" that supported the glamour of Yoshiwara behind the scenes.

Thus, the conversations between the bald and the shinzo were not mere jokes or whispers, but were filled with wisdom and a sense of tension to carry on and survive the culture of Edo's brothels.