Pimp - Zegen

A common name in eastern Japan for geisha (geisha) and prostitute (shogi) brokers. They are also called hannin (judgments) because they signed the document for sale as ukenin (guarantors). "Gen" means to sell, and jo-gen is thought to be a corrupted form of joken (women-watching), as the term was used to refer to women for business purposes, but there is no definitive proof. The term first came into use during the Genroku period (1688-1704) and continued into the Taisho period. Among professional brokers, jo-gen were distinguished because, in addition to requiring a special business sense, they were prone to commit crimes such as kidnapping and fraud, which had existed since the medieval human traffickers, and they were known to make unfair profits from mizukin (lodging fees until employment) and agency fees for changing jobs, in addition to the brokerage fee. In addition to having relationships with brothels, they also had agents in the provinces and carried out their activities in an organized manner.

[Yoichi Harashima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

芸妓(げいぎ)・娼妓(しょうぎ)周旋人の東日本での通称。身売り証文に請人(うけにん)（保証人）として連判したので判人(はんにん)ともいう。「衒」は売るの意で、女衒は、商売上女を見ることから女見(じょけん)の転訛(てんか)したものと考えられるが、確証はない。元禄(げんろく)年間（1688～1704）から使われ始め大正時代に及んだ。職業周旋人のうちでとくに女衒が区別されたのは、特殊な営業感覚を要することのほかに、中世の人買い以来の誘拐、詐欺(さぎ)などの犯罪に結び付きやすく、周旋料のほかに水金(みずきん)（就業までの滞在費など）や鞍替(くらが)え（就業先変更）による仲介料などで不当な利益をあげるのを例としたからである。遊女屋と関係をもつのはもちろん、地方にも手先を置いて組織的に活動した。

［原島陽一］

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