A night cuddled by the red light of a brazier: Yoshiwara prostitutes regain their small daily lives (late Edo period)

A night cuddled by the red light of a brazier: Yoshiwara prostitutes regain their small daily lives (late Edo period)
As night fell in Yoshiwara and the partying came to an end, the prostitutes would gather around a brazier and reheat the leftovers from the feast in small pots to make a small evening meal. The brazier was not only a heating device, but also one of the few fires that prostitutes could freely use in their rooms, and the act of placing the pot on the charcoal fire was a small ceremony to return from the strain of glamorous work to the time of life. Facing the red flickering charcoal fire, the prostitutes naturally relaxed their facial expressions and talked about everyday topics, such as the customers who had arrived today, store rumors, physical exhaustion, and thoughts about the new year. These were precious moments when they could regain their true selves in the midst of their daily routines of playing their roles.
The Morisada Manuscript mentions that hibachi (brazier) was always available in the prostitutes' rooms, and they are often depicted sitting around hibachi in genre paintings. The wisdom of using leftover food from sake feasts as a nightly meal is also found in many sources as a reality of the Yoshiwara. Contrary to the image of splendor and the extraordinary, prostitutes supported each other in these small communal moments and tried to maintain the temperature of their lives even in the harsh environment. The light of a brazier symbolized their quiet solidarity and the certainty of their daily lives.