Okabasho - Okabasho

A common name for private brothels in Edo. To the Edo Shogunate, which established the public brothel system, all private prostitution was illegal and secret prostitution, but eradicating it was not easy, partly because the Shogunate's measures were incomplete. In particular, from around the Horeki era (1751-64), private brothels appeared in various places throughout Edo, and they were called okabasho (red light districts) in contrast to the officially recognized Yoshiwara. There are about 70 okabasho known today, but they include places where street prostitutes can be found, and there is a difference in size. The prosperity of the okabasho can be said to be in response to latent demand, but it cannot be overlooked that the fact that they were closer and cheaper than Yoshiwara also played an effective role. Fukagawa and Nezu later developed into entertainment districts on a par with Yoshiwara.

[Yoichi Harashima]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸における私娼(ししょう)街の通称。公娼遊廓(ゆうかく)制を敷いた江戸幕府にとって、私娼はすべて違法な秘密売春のはずであるが、幕府の対策が不徹底であったことにも一因があり、その根絶は容易でなかった。ことに宝暦(ほうれき)（1751～64）前後からは江戸市中の各所に私娼街が出現し、それらを公認の吉原に対比して岡場所とよんだ。今日知られている岡場所は約70か所あるが、街娼出没地も含まれていて、規模などには格差が認められる。岡場所の繁栄は、潜在的な需要に応じたものといえるが、吉原に比べて近くて安いという条件が有効に作用したことも見逃せない。深川、根津などは、のちに吉原と並ぶ歓楽街に発展した。

［原島陽一］

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