Bargaining at Hikite Chaya - The art of language at the entrance to Yoshiwara (Edo period)

Bargaining at Hikite Chaya - The art of language at the entrance to Yoshiwara (Edo period)

The "Hikitechaya" in Yoshiwara was a place that functioned first of all as an intermediary for customers who did not come directly to the prostitutes' house. It was not a mere waiting area or intermediary, but the first "stage" where prostitutes, customers, and intermediaries (Hikite) were interwoven. For first-time visitors, the interaction here was their first impression of Yoshiwara, and it was no exaggeration to say that how thoughtfully they were treated would determine their future relationship.

Hikite were often very businesslike, and they were in the delicate position of putting their customers in a good mood while at the same time maintaining the trust of the brothel. For example, they would greet a customer whom they had never met before by saying, "This gentleman is an excellent customer, and he was here the other day with the Ginza masters. The prostitute would smile, put her fan to her mouth, and say, "Well, you say that so well. You are very good at what you do. This momentary exchange condensed the "verbal gamesmanship" characteristic of Yoshiwara. It is the art of language that skillfully crosses the line between banter and civility without embarrassing the other party.

By the late Edo period (1603-1867), the art of conversation was combined with cultural concepts such as "iki" and "dori," and a moment at a teahouse functioned as a kind of social gathering place. Hikite teahouses had a certain prestige, and their roles varied, from those that favored regular customers to those that invited geisha to create a zashiki (tatami room) atmosphere. For the customers, it was a place where they were "tested" even before they paid their money, and the degree to which they could enjoy stylish conversation was an indicator of their "class" as a person.

As symbolized by this scene, the world of the Yoshiwara was not merely a place of entertainment, but a space where refined social rituals breathed through conversation and manners. Every word exchanged was a mixture of laughter and tension, pride and bargaining, and the human drama of Edo unfolded as if it were an act of a small play.