The Light and Shadow of the Amusement Quarter: Wide-ranging Culture of the Public and the Private (Edo - Osaka)

The Light and Shadow of the Amusement Quarter: Wide-ranging Culture of the Public and the Private (Edo - Osaka)

The Edo shogunate officially recognized the yugaku in order to control the disorderly spread of colorful towns caused by the rapid increase in population and to maintain public order. The establishment of Moto-Yoshiwara was symbolic of this, and in the process of relocating to Shin-Yoshiwara after the Great Fire, the brothels became more and more institutionalized. There, the famous geisha Yoshinotayu became a cultural symbol, and changes in the names of harumise and prostitutes indicated the maturation of the yugaku culture and the flamboyance of the urban culture. While the city was glamorous, its influence on society was both beneficial and detrimental, as it was described as a "poison healer, for better or worse.

In addition to Edo, publicly licensed brothels were established in Shinmachi in Osaka, Shimabara in Kyoto, and other areas. The arrangement of teahouses and fairs formed part of the urban landscape and played a role in defining the flow of people. On the other hand, unlicensed brothels also existed in various places, and although historical records are scarce, it can be seen that they cast a dark shadow on the periphery of urban society. The brothels thus developed over a wide area from Edo to Osaka, and functioned as a device for institutionalizing entertainment and economy.

In this way, the culture of the licensed and unlicensed brothels was a mirror reflecting the urban society of the Edo period, and the combination of splendor and shadows in the background shaped the urban customs of the era.