yuujo
Yuujo (遊女, lit. "women of pleasure"), were the prostitutes of feudal era Japan.
Yuujo are usually shown wearing a kimono_loosely_hanging_open or off_their_shoulders in order to expose their chest. Their hair tends toward extremes: either carefully sculpted shapes with the bangs_pulled_back, or pinned_up in an artful_mess (both of which are achieved through the use of several hair_sticks and kanzashi). Some form of makeup may be present, often eyeshadow or lipstick. Oftentimes, they are shown holding a kiseru, an oil-paper umbrella, or a rolled-up mat. Sometimes the obi will be tied in a bow on the front of their kimono, allegedly for "easy access".
The most common depictions of yuujo are indoors, lying_on_their_side in a state of seductive, carefully-arranged disarray, or waiting for clients at night on a bridge that crosses over a stream or a river.
There is a certain sub-type of yuujo, the oiran, who despite also providing sexual services, were famed for being more cultured, educated, respectable, and skilled in providing classical entertainment and intelligent discourse.
See also
* oiran
* layered kimono
* prostitution
* geisha
External links
* Japanese Wikipedia: 遊女
Aliases: none