Yoshiwara was a famous Akasen district (red-light district) in Edo, present-day Tokyo, Japan. The courtesans would consist of yujo (women of pleasure/prostitutes), kamuro (young female students), shinzo (senior female students), hashi-joro (lower-ranking courtesans), koshi-joro (high-ranking courtesans), tayu (higher-ranking courtesans), oiran (highest ranking courtesans). The unfortunate women in caged brothels represented the lowest rank of prostitute in Yoshiwara and other red light areas.
Crédito:
Album / Pictures From History/Universal Images Group