Fashion in the Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarter

The Yoshiwara flourished as a prominent pleasure quarter. The highest-ranking courtesans, called Oiran, were the top of the hierarchy of the Yoshiwara. Even today Oiran are depicted as heroines in many films and manga, and their otherworldly charms still appeal to people. Although their gorgeous fashion may be the first thing we think of when it comes to Oiran, they were required not only to be beautiful, but also to be educated and to have excellent entertainment skills. In the Edo period, many famous people of the time, including samurai and wealthy townspeople, visited Oiran frequently. The Yoshiwara sometimes played a role as a cultural salon. On the other hand, people in Edo understood Oiran’s severe circumstances and called the Yoshiwara “Kugai” (place of universal suffering). They sometimes figuratively referred to Oiran as saints such as Fugenbosatsu (also known as Samantabhadra: a Buddhist saint who represents the method, meditation and training for spiritual enlightenment).
This exhibition features Oiran’s fashion and their daily lives in the Yoshiwara. Through the works of ukiyo-e, visitors can experience the charm of the courtesans, who had a unique presence in Edo culture.

※The Yoshiwara was opened in Nihonbahi in 1618, but was ordered to move to Asakusa in 1656. Although the original Yoshiwara was called “Moto-Yoshiwara” (the old Yoshiwara) and the new one was called “Shin-Yoshiwara” (the new Yoshiwara), in this exhibition we refer to both as “Yoshiwara” for convenience.