Rashomon Riverbank and "Oshiguro Dobu

Rashomon Riverbank and "Oshiguro Dobu
The "Rashomon riverbank" refers to the area along the Shinbori River that ran along the south side of Yoshiwara, close to the outer edge of the brothels. It is said that the name was derived ironically from the presence of a foul-smelling drainage ditch (dobu) and the fact that the prostitutes who were housed there were not even qualified to apply "o-taguro" (black teeth).

The prostitute class and "living hell
In Yoshiwara, high-ranking prostitutes such as oiran (courtesans) and tayu (courtesans) were highly prestigious and well educated, excelling in literature and the performing arts. On the other hand, prostitutes who were forced into the "oshukuro dobu" were ill, not allowed to show their wares, and were almost completely closed off from the world of prostitution. It was difficult for them to even buy medicines with their daily earnings, and they often died of illness before completing their years of service. After death, they were usually buried at the nearby Jokanji Temple (a so-called "throw-in temple").

Townspeople's Culture and Contradictions
In the 18th and 19th centuries, Edo (present-day Tokyo), the culture of the townspeople had matured, and the glamorous Yoshiwara were depicted in ukiyoe prints, caricatures, and kabuki plays. However, these depictions often emphasized "chic" and "flamboyance" and did not touch on the realities of the miserable lives of prostitutes. The reality behind the scenes was hidden, and the contradictions of Yoshiwara as a "place of desire" in a consumer society were condensed.

Historical Significance
The existence of "Odukuro Dobu" and the Rashomon riverbank are not merely the backstory of the brothels, but symbolize the differences in class, the relationship between sex and consumption, and the lights and shadows of the city in Edo society. The women who were forced to work like their lives deprived of life behind the glamorous backdrop of the city truly illustrate the cruel structure of pre-modern urban society.