Yoshiwara

Japanese: 吉原 - よしわら

A red light district in Tokyo since the Edo period. In 1617, the ronin Shoji Jinemon obtained permission from the shogunate to gather all the brothels in Edo city at Fukiya, Nihonbashi (near present-day Ningyocho, Nihonbashi, Chuo Ward) to create Keiseicho. The area was originally called "Kyohara" (reed plain) because it was reclaimed land overgrown with reeds, but later the auspicious character "Yoshiwara" was used. After being burned down in a great fire in 1657, it was moved to the Asakusa Yamaya area (present-day Senzoku, Taito Ward). This area came to be called Shin-Yoshiwara. Since then, it has been as lively as Shinmachi in Osaka and Shimabara in Kyoto, forming a special area known as a pleasure district. Edomachi, Ageyacho, Kadomachi, Kyomachi, and other areas were opened on either side of Nakamachi from Daimonguchi, and surrounded by moats. In 1750, the ageya disappeared and were replaced by the Hikite-chaya, and the number of prostitutes reached 3,000. In 1795, the area was run by six Kimoiri headmen. It was a place of pleasure and social interaction, and was a source of Edo townspeople culture, including music, ukiyo-e, kabuki, and literature. It continued to exist after the Meiji period, but was dissolved in 1956 when the Anti-Prostitution Law was passed, and parts of it became inns and entertainment facilities. (→ Okabasho )

Yoshiwara

Part of the central urban area of Fuji City, eastern Shizuoka Prefecture. Former city name. Merged with Fuji City in 1966. During the Edo period, it was known as a post town on the Tokaido Road's 53 Stations and as a producer of Suruga-banshi paper. Western paper manufacturing techniques were introduced during the Meiji period, and the paper industry developed. Around World War II, many factories for automobiles, electrical equipment, metals, etc. were established here. It is home to Myohoji Temple (Bishamonten), famous for its Daruma Market.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

江戸時代以来の東京の遊郭。元和3 (1617) 年牢 (浪) 人庄司甚右衛門が幕府の許可を得て，江戸市中のすべての遊女屋を日本橋葺屋 (現在の中央区日本橋人形町付近) に集めて傾城 (けいせい) 町をつくった。ここはヨシの茂る埋立て地であったところから最初「葭原」と称したが，のち縁起のいい「吉原」という字を用いたという。明暦3 (57) 年の大火で焼け，浅草山谷付近 (現在の台東区千束) に移転。ここは新吉原といわれた。以来大坂の新町，京都の島原と並んでにぎわいをみせ，遊里と称する特殊地帯を形成。大門口から仲町をはさんで，江戸町，揚屋町，角町，京町などが開け，周囲には堀がめぐらされた。寛延3 (1750) 年揚屋がなくなり引手茶屋に代り，遊女 3000を数えたという。寛政7 (95) 年には肝煎 (きもいり) 名主6人で運営することとなった。享楽地であると同時に社交場でもあり，音曲，浮世絵，歌舞伎，文学など江戸町人文化の源泉であった。明治以降も存続したが，1956年売春防止法の成立によって解散，一部が旅館，娯楽施設街となっている。 (→岡場所 ) 　