The Eighteen Great Streets

He was a wealthy playboy who appeared in Edo during the An'ei and Tenmei eras (1772-1789) and considered himself a connoisseur. There is a theory that the number 18 comes from the 18 Kabuki plays and the 18 Danrin monks, but it is also said to be either a vague approximate number or a definite number. In "Zansaibukuro" (Waste Bag) by Misousuya Nisoji, there are many people who were involved in the affairs of the town, such as Daikokuya Shumin (Yoshiwara police inspector), Murataya Hansen (a Japanese scholar), Matsuzakaya Satatsu (a bill-broker), Yamatoya Bun'yo (a bill-broker), Oguchiya Kyou (a bill-broker), Katsuragawa Hoshu (a town doctor), The list includes 15 people: Gion Minri (satsuji), Taruya Manzan (town elder), Shimotsukeya Giran (satsuji), Oguchiya Touyu (satsuji), Oguchiya Kinsui (satsuji), Oguchiya Uyu (satsuji), Omiya Ryuga (satsuji), Hiranoya Gyokou (satsuji), and Osaki Yuseki (unknown). Ten of them were kuramae satsuji, who acted as agents for hatamoto and gokenin when they received their stipends from the shogunate's rice storehouse, and also lent money using this rice as collateral. With these privileges, he accumulated great wealth and acted in the red light district and theatrical districts where the power of gold matters. Regarding Oguchiya Kyou, one of the 18 great masters, it is written, "...When Kyouou came to Yoshiwara, he wore a black kosode with a small crest, a shark skin sheath, a sash, a charm, and geta. When he entered the main gate, the wives of the tea houses on both sides of Nakanomachi came out and saw Kyouou's Daikoku crest, they exclaimed in excitement that it must be the god of fortune, and before long, this appearance became known as Sukeroku..."

[Fumio Inagaki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

安永(あんえい)・天明(てんめい)（1772～89）のころ、江戸に現れ通人を自認した富裕な遊蕩児(ゆうとうじ)。十八の数については歌舞伎(かぶき)十八番、十八檀林(だんりん)などにちなんだという説もあり、漠然とした概数とも確定した数ともいわれている。三升屋二三治(みますやにそうじ)の『残菜袋(ざんさいぶくろ)』には、大黒屋秀民(だいこくやしゅうみん)（吉原見番(けんばん)）、村田屋帆船(むらたやはんせん)（国学者）、松坂屋左達(まつざかやさたつ)（札差(ふださし)）、大和屋文魚(やまとやぶんぎょ)（札差）、大口屋暁雨(おおぐちやきょうう)（札差）、桂川甫周(かつらがわほしゅう)（町医者）、祇園眠里(ぎおんみんり)（札差）、樽屋万山(たるやまんざん)（町年寄）、下野屋祇蘭(しもつけやぎらん)（札差）、大口屋稲有(とうゆう)（札差）、同金翠(きんすい)（札差）、同有遊(うゆう)（札差）、近江屋柳賀(おうみやりゅうが)（札差）、平野屋魚交(ひらのやぎょこう)（札差）、大崎雄石(おおさきゆうせき)（不明）の15人が記されている。このうち10人は蔵前(くらまえ)の札差で、旗本、御家人(ごけにん)が俸禄(ほうろく)を幕府の米蔵から受け取る際の代理人であり、またこの禄米を引き当てにして金貸しもした。その特権のもとに豪富を積み、黄金の力がものをいう遊廓(ゆうかく)、芝居町ではでにふるまった。十八大通の一人、大口屋暁雨について、「……暁翁吉原へ来る時は、黒小袖(こそで)小口の紋付を着流し、鮫鞘(さめざや)の一腰、一ッ印籠(いんろう)、下駄はきて大門をはいると、仲の町両側の茶屋の女房出て、暁翁が大黒の紋を見れば、そりゃこそ福神様の御出とわやわやいう故、いつしか此(この)姿を今助六という……」とある。

［稲垣史生］

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