Kyoto Shimabara and the Customs of the Town - Dignity of the Capital and Amusement Culture (Edo Period)

Kyoto Shimabara and the Customs of the Town - Dignity of the Capital and Amusement Culture (Edo Period)

Kyoto's Shimabara yugaku, formerly known as Rokujo Sansujimachi, was established in Keicho 17, and later moved to Shimabara, where it took its name. Its location near the Imperial Palace gave the yugaku culture a special prestige and dignity. While Yoshiwara in Edo and Shinmachi in Osaka developed as centers of economy and entertainment, Shimabara had the cultural traditions of the "capital" in the background and was imbued with a character that emphasized higher education and artistic pursuits.

The prostitutes who were active in Shimabara were not mere providers of entertainment, but also played a central role in the culture of the townspeople through their interaction with cultural figures, with their knowledge of waka, haikai, tea ceremony, dance, and so on. Her culture and good looks attracted many cultural figures, and she transformed the brothel from a mere place of entertainment into a salon for cultural exchange. Through her, Shimabara became a place that linked the culture of the townspeople with that of the court nobles and samurai, and established a unique position that could not be found in Edo or Osaka.

Shimabara's fairs were built with a high respect for formality, and the prostitutes' parades and banquets had the elegance of a capital city. Shimabara thus functioned as a major entertainment district that combined glamor and elegance within the urban landscape. While the brothels in Edo and Osaka were more economical and popular, Kyoto Shimabara is unique as a cultural symbol of the capital's traditions, and is a valuable example of the diversity of urban customs in the Edo period.