Waitress - Nakai

A housemaid is someone who takes care of meals, drinks, and entertainment at restaurants. Originally, it was the name of a lower-ranking court lady who worked as a cook at the imperial court, but it was passed down to samurai and civilians, and when it moved to teahouses, it became a job unrelated to cooking. They are commonly called red front coats because they wear red front coats, and this custom is a tradition that dates back to the court ladies. Nakai at teahouses in Kansai went beyond being mere waitresses, and came to hold real power over the management of the rooms, including the appointment of prostitutes and geisha.

[Yoichi Harashima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

料理店などで飲食・遊興の世話をする座敷女中。元来は、宮廷で炊事をつとめる下級女官の名であったものが武家や民間にも継承され、茶屋に移って炊事とは無縁の職業となった。紅色の前垂(まえだれ)をつけるので赤前垂と俗称するが、この風俗は宮廷女官以来の伝統である。関西の茶屋の仲居は、単なる給仕人の域を超えて、遊女や芸者の指名をはじめ座敷の差配の実権を握るようになった。

［原島陽一］

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