What is Yūjo?
How people became Yūjo
The way people often became yūjo was by being sold. Desperate parents would sell their children as early as the age of 7 or 8. They were sold to be indentured servitude, meaning they had to work for a certain number of years before being let go. One of the organizations that functioned in this human trafficking process was Jisha myōmokukin kashitsuke [寺社名目金貸付]. They were originally a money lending institution for the imperial family, regents, or other high-ranking companies to loan money for reasons such as building shrines and temples. Since the 18th century, the range of customers became widespread, and ran as a loaning institution for the general public in Edo, also becoming an important source of funding for each business. During this time, it is said that half of the loans were towards yūjo-yas. For yūjo-ya, it usually costs about 30-Ryo to procure one yūjo for a couple of years. [1] Another reason people became yūjo was due to their fall of status to slaves. There was a sentence given specifically to women called Yakko [奴刑]. During this time, people were sentenced yakko for the crimes they committed such as robbery or illegal prostitution, or for the crimes that their family members committed. Once they were punished to be a slave, they were often bought by yūjo-yas. Some became yūjo through exposure of baita-ya. After those baita-yas were driven out of business, baitas were taken in by yūjo-yas through drawing lots. It was a great opportunity for them to welcome more yūjo without having to pay a ransom. Kidnapping often occurred as well. Girls who were kidnapped were then sold to yūjo-yas. Human trafficking was illegal during this time as well however, it was often deemed part of the business and overlooked. [2] There were few who threw themselves into the system to gain money for their husbands or parents.
Their main role was to entertain male customers. Their focal form of entertainment was through sexual intercourse, though their original forms use to be playing instruments or dancing.
The role of yūjo was not only to entertain their customers, but they also had a role as a teacher to young ones. As there were children being sold to yūjo-yas, they would not be engaging with customers yet. These little girls’ job was to help around their sister yūjo, by doing their daily chores such as cleaning and delivering messages. In return, those sister yūjo would teach them their ways to be successful yūjo. For instance, through trade secrets, including how to compose letters to visitors and to speak using deceptive language, and to fake tears. As they get older, they would be educated on various mannerisms and refined arts.
Roles of Yūjo
Their Ranks
"Yūjo" was merely a category of the profession, and within yūjo were ranks sorted by their appearance, their talents, and their status. Their ranks changed over time, but here are the ranks of yūjo used in the latter half of Shin-Yoshiwara
[3]
Customers
Who were the customers
While the customers at brothels were not willing to expose their status as they were there for experiencing something extraordinary, it was important for Yūjo to assume or figure out their status based on conversations.
Most of the customers were from the upper class who could spend money on entertainment activities but not all of them were always financially comfortable enough to afford but to come to escape from the reality [4].
Their Transportation
The main transportation for customers was on foot, a kago, or a boat. In the first year of Kanbun (1661), the use of horses as transportation to the yūjo -yas were prohibited and as a result, many switched to either a kago or a boat.
Their hardships
Their working arrangements were horrific, as they were forced to work lengthy shifts even while being ill or on their periods. Many were exhausted and in an unhealthy state. During the Edo period, there was not much contraception being done. As a result, people like yūjo faced the risk of pregnancy, though it was not as common as people may assume due to their bodies being through tough scheduling and not properly being taken care of. There were those who got pregnant, however, but often times they were aborted, and very few yūjo reached the point of giving birth. Many caught venereal diseases and lost lives to them in their twenties. [5] As the illness progressed, their appearance changed drastically, and they started to be mentally affected. Many had to endure abuse from their yūjo-ya owners and customers. They would be punished for not fulfilling their expectations. Their earnings were considerably low because as they went up in rank, they had to keep purchasing wardrobes and present themselves as luxurious to be more attractive to men. The education for their sister yūjo was also paid out of their pockets. They could never escape from their financial burden. Even if they wanted to escape, it was very difficult as their contract bound them. One of the rare occasions to escape was to find a man who would buy them out of that world. Those who attempted to run away from yūjo-ya but were caught faced serious consequences. There were many forms of punishment. Some would be beaten intensely, others not permitted to sleep, or eat, and others were hung with their legs and arms tied. Therefore, many who would try to elope with a customer would even plan a double suicide.
Difference between yūjo and geisha
They are often compared with geishas; however, they had different roles. Geishas emerged as a substitute for the lack of performance techniques by yūjo. Therefore, geisha were not deemed prostitutes, but they would do buisiness in yūjo-yas purely to perform dance and shamisen [三味線 ].[6] After the Meiji period, in contrast to yūkaku which was losing its function as a social gathering place, geisha gained popularity in the business and political world as a companion.
[1] Yokoyama, Yuriko 2018, Chapter 4 Section 2 part 1
[2] Stanly, Amy 2012, p.111
[3] Sakomura, Tomoko 2013, p.170
[4] Takagi, Madoka 2005, p. 168-170
[5] Yokoyama, Yuriko 2016, p.167
[6] Acar, Adam 2021