### Memories of the Shadow of a Brothel: Recollections from the Taisho and Early Showa Periods

### Memories of the Shadow of a Brothel: Recollections from the Taisho and Early Showa Periods

What is a brothel? This question comes to my mind from time to time. When I was young and walking around Asakusa and Senzokucho neighborhoods, I was once told by women, "It's not a place for you guys yet. That one word was a reminder of the boundary between boys and adults. The brothel was not just a place for sex, but a place where the urban order and social rituals were concentrated.

The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 swallowed this space in one fell swoop. The 12th floor, the symbol of Asakusa, collapsed, and the brothel in Senzoku-cho disappeared in flames. Before the earthquake, Asakusa was the center of Tokyo's popular culture, and the area was crowded with photo studios, freak shows, and private whorehouses known as sake houses. It was a vortex of bustle and hustle, but for young people with desire and curiosity, it was a gateway to an unknown world. After the earthquake, the city was rebuilt, but the brothels of Senzoku-cho never reappeared. The vanished streets coincided with the loss of youth itself for me.

The neighborhood of Tamanoi, which is talked about along with Asakusa, had a different scene. There was none of the glamor and bustle of Chizukamachi, but rather a maze of quiet alleys. The streetlights were bare bulbs, and it was so dimly lit that it was difficult to make out even a person's face. The air was always humid, and just being there gave me the feeling of being separated from the rest of the world. Facing the women in the alley, I sensed something more than a sexual affair. Conversations with these women sometimes reflected the shadows of life and society beyond the negotiation of desire.

Looking back, the interaction in the brothels was an ordeal for me. In being rejected, I learned of my immaturity, and in being welcomed, I experienced the sensation of stepping into society. It was not mere amusement or comfort, but rather a reflection of the rise and fall of the city, the power of the system, and the question of how a young person comes to terms with society.

That is why the question, "What is a brothel?" still resonates with me today. The bustle of Asakusa, the disappearance of Senzoku-cho, and the damp alleys of Tamanoi are all memories that reflect the urban culture and shadow of the times from the Taisho to the early Showa period. And they are the very images of my own youth.