Fire and Temporary Housing in Yoshiwara - Fire Culture and the Circumstances of prostitutes in Edo

Fire and Temporary Housing in Yoshiwara - Fire Culture and the Circumstances of prostitutes in Edo

The city of Edo (present-day Tokyo) was so prone to fires that it was said that "fire and fighting were the flower of Edo. In particular, Yoshiwara brothels, which were densely built of wood, were always exposed to the danger of fire and often caught on fire. Some brothel owners would have preferred to see their buildings burn down, as it would have given them an opportunity to rebuild their dilapidated buildings, clear their debts, and start up new businesses. The fire was both a disaster and an opportunity for the brothels to revitalize themselves.

After the fire, "temporary housing" was provided, and the owners and prostitutes who were burned out continued to operate temporarily in simple buildings or in temporary sites in the neighborhood. The temporary houses were of simple construction, and the prostitutes lost their original glamorous environment and were treated poorly. The clientele was also declining, which was a great humiliation for the high-class prostitutes, and they wished to return to the original Yoshiwara as soon as possible.

On the other hand, for the lower class prostitutes, the temporary housing environment meant temporary freedom. The watchful eye of the authorities was relaxed, and they were able to lead more humane lives than before. However, this did not last long, and once Yoshiwara was rebuilt, they were once again subjected to strict discipline.

At that time, Edo was frequently hit by large fires, and each time the city was burned to the ground, but at the same time it was said to be a "cyclical city" that repeatedly rebuilt itself. Yoshiwara was also a part of this cycle, and continued to exist as a symbol of Edo culture while repeatedly being destroyed and rebuilt by fire.