Iimori Onna, a shadowy figure who supported the inn (Bunka 2, 1805)

Iimori Onna, a shadowy figure who supported the inn (Bunka 2, 1805)

During the Edo period (1603-1867), inns along the Five Routes of Edo (1603-1867) were very busy as travelers came and went. Iimori women were one of the economic supporters of the inns. Although they were hired to serve guests in inns and perform miscellaneous duties, in reality they often also engaged in prostitution and provided sexual services to guests on a regular basis. A record from the 2nd year of Bunka (1805) details the number of iimori women and the size of each inn, indicating that the shogunate recognized their existence under a certain framework.

At the time, public prostitutes such as those in Yoshiwara were under the direct control of the shogunate, but at inns along the roads, iimori women were practically authorized in order to meet the demand of travelers. A "fixed number" was set for each inn, and if the number exceeded the fixed number, control was exercised, but in reality, in many cases, they were tacitly approved. This made the inns economically prosperous, and the inns were able to run their businesses.

On the other hand, problems such as disorderly public morals and the spread of disease arose, and attempts were often made to tighten regulations. Even so, the existence of iimori-jyo did not disappear, and they continued to function as a backstage mechanism to support the travel of commoners and samurai. In other words, iimori-onna was a symbolic presence that linked the economy and customs under the shogunate and domain system, and embodied the contradictions and realities of Edo society.