The Evening Vision Lured by the Wind - Hikitechaya and the Transition of Yoshiwara's Amusement (Edo Period)

The Evening Vision Lured by the Wind - Hikitechaya and the Transition of Yoshiwara's Amusement (Edo Period)

The Yoshiwara amusement quarters in Edo (present-day Tokyo) were established as an urban entertainment district officially recognized by the shogunate, and the system of how to play the amusement quarters changed dramatically from the late 18th to the 19th century. In the old days, when the "ageya" system was the mainstay of the entertainment district, customers used the "ageya" as a base from which to enjoy the banquet halls and the company of the prostitutes. However, the ageya system gradually declined, and the main form of entertainment was through the Hikitechaya. The teahouse functioned as an intermediary between the customer and the brothel, and the customer would first enter the teahouse, inform the brothel or prostitute of his/her choice, and be guided there. This system played an important role in maintaining trust and public confidence in the urban culture of Edo, and it shaped the business practices of Yoshiwara as a whole.

In Omise in particular, the custom of not being able to enjoy entertainment without passing through a Hikitechaya took root, and the gratuities paid to the teahouse increased the burden on the customer, but also emphasized the prestige of the teahouse. At the same time, the Hikite teahouse guaranteed the trust of customers and was associated with the reputation of prostitutes and brothels, echoing the culture in Edo society, where honor and appearance were important. These institutional changes were deeply connected to the diversification of the clientele, indicating a broadening of entertainment from short-lived entertainment to longer banquets and even residential experiences that included overnight stays. The increase in the urban population and the rising economic power of the merchant class in the late Edo period were behind the transformation of Yoshiwara into a place for socializing and exchange.

The prosperity of the Hikitechaya system also affected the way prostitutes worked. While the increase in the number of rooms and the long hours spent by customers provided new opportunities for popular prostitutes, it also contributed to long working hours and inequality among the lower class prostitutes. Behind the glamorous banquets lay the reality of competition and labor. The changes in Yoshiwara are etched in the minds and memories of the people of that time as a microcosm of urban culture, where class, economy, and culture intersected in Edo society.

As related information, the details of the Hikitechaya system and Yoshiwara's amusement industry are covered in numerous historical documents and cultural commentaries, providing an important perspective for understanding the role of the amusement quarters in the urban culture of the Edo period.