Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-20

PARENTS AND BoNDSNEN-CrRIors CUsrohk
From The STARS Travelling Commissio,sr
TOKYO, August - 1855
There is a place IN Japan which every male
tourist visits TO gaze on its outside; place that
contains probably the most remarkable attempt
ever made to solve the great problem OF human
society; yet q place entirely unknown TO the
western world, for nobody has ventured to make
In print more than an airy passing allusion
to 1t No foreigner, indeed, has ever been In a
position to write much OF this place from his own
knowledge, for the police authorities tell me
that / am the nrst TO whom opportunities for
thorough Investigation have been afforded
have, OF course, hestated good deal before sitting
down to write OF It. but have concluded not to
make one OF the conspirators OF silence upon all
and who are themselves not a little responsible. /
am convinced, for the continuance OF the evils
they deplore. I shall therefore write simply and
truthIulIy Of what have seen and learned Of this
remarkable and secret place, and you will give IL
TO your readers II you think nj. But as Japan has
pity that we cannot borrow from her In return
something OF her practice OF dealing with ali such
subjects with equal frankness and modesty.
On the furthesl northwestern outskirts OF Tokyo,
an hours ride In Jinrtklsha from anywhere, tn lie
Is large colony apart You enter IL through
Mn Willow sSe Of " Welcomsn ia
anu on the other side post OF police. Tue streets
inside are long and WIDE shops and tea-houses al
II
garden SIX feet across, where succession OF now.
ers In full bloom Is maintained among pleasant
fountains and quaint stone lanterns An eagle,
marVelously constructed OF shreds OF bamboo. Is
sitting upon q tree stump, and
HALF DOZEN WAX FIGURES
OF men and women, startlingly nfe-lke, are pluck
ing the flowers and strolling by the fountains one
man has trodden upon q toad and Is springing
back In disgust his foot drawn up almost to his
waist lady has stopped before a little brook
and stands with her gown gathered up hesitating
70 cross, when a coole-a japanese Sir Walter
hSaelghmrunS up ana spreads his coat on the mud
long a crowd or real people, not bit more real
looking, gaze on them with delight or with Japan
feet pleasure in admiring the flowers and the but
terflieS. From the caves OF the bamUoo-peaked
roof hang two rows OF brilliant red lanterns, and
from the shops and tea-houses at the side hang
two more rows SO In daytime TOUR long lines OF
red are waving In the wind, and at night four
streams OF dancing scariet-appropriate colori-
the principal street is large and hand
some building surmounted by clock-tower
dominating the entire colony: And when you
have walked for quarter OF mile under the
lanterns and beside the flowers you ind rot one
only but q dozen such buildings, massive struc-
lures OF stone ana brick with pillared verandas
and lofty vaulted entrances through which you
get glimpse OF great Stairways aud columns OF
polished wood, with cool green gardens exJen ling
In Tokyo than these, and they have cost hundreds
OF thousands OF dollars. They bear no sign or
mark outside to indicate their purpose, though II
you look up In passing you Will probably see q
graceful figure or Two In bright gowns strolling
upon the balcony, or pair OF black eyes viii LOOK
catch sight OF graceI1l head with MONUMENTAL
couture resting upon a tiny hand and bare arm.
This is the Yosniwara as you may See IT any day.
flowers and the lanterns and read the unwritten
story OF these silent palaces?
THE PLAIN OF REKDa
The word "Yoshiwara" means literally "The
Plain OF Reeds" and 50 long ago as the reign OF
the Shotgun Iyemitsu, In 1863, 1t vas the favorite
tute class. AT the restoration, however, twenty
years ago, the authorities determined TO suppress
houses or prostitution in the city OF TOKYO proper,
and TO coIhne them to this part. Now the word
"Yoshiwara" has become the generic name for
the quarter Inhabited by the Japanese den,i-monde
In any town. There are no fewer than six or Them
one, which am describing, Is the CHIEF and most
remarkable. This step OF segregation W as taken
;Or several reasons In the nrst place. IL seemed
or kashi-sashiki, from all tine respectaoIe
medical inspection which they were determined to
enforce would be easier and more certain; tine tax
upon eacn member or the demi-m0nde could be
better coilected tue whole system, which Is regu-
lated by very intricate laws enforced theoretically
with great strcIness, would be much more under
police control; ana last, but not least In weight,
sucn quarter would be happy hunting ground
Tor The secret police as q successful swindier or a
hiding thleI would be pretty sure turn up there
and any conspiracy against law and order would
cas- is" argued the authorizes 'there also will
the eagles be gathered together" and the keepers
much to lose not to help the police secretly by
every meanS-and there mus be a miiIion-in
their power. So there is a special branch OF 70
shiwara police.
ENROLMENT OF REoKuIrs
To understand the peculiar japanese point OF
view In this matter, We must 20 back TO the de-
partment Of police. There, as said in my pre-
vious letter, Is q special bureau OF prostitution
Qncluded In the bureau or trade) with dozen busy
Iunctlonaries, and there, too, was permitted a
special favor TO he present at the enrolment OF re-
cruiJs. In small room on the ground floor sat
two officials behind desks on a raised platform
Opposite them were sliding doors In the wall and
as these were opened from outside by policeman
three persons catered, the girl applying 10 become
keeper OF a kashi-zashiki. They all make very
low bows, and remain Ia an attitude VI the grea est
respect. The girl Is questioned she replies auto
matically with d0whcast tyes; the parent
Is questioned, he repnes apologetically with
many explanations; the Keeper Is Ques-
n,oDed he ,s replies prSd,uSs WITH Prselised
official makes many entries In an deliberately ruled
ledger before him. Then the three rellre. In a
another trio and SO on without variation, without
emotion, formally and relenLieSSly the stream of
victims Is rolled on-victlms 10 human lust or d.
vine incompetence or natural necessity, according
TO your point OF view. l could not help being re-
mined OF the automatic ig-killing at the stock
yards or Chicago. Some OF The girls are no longer
young, but coarse In person and OraZen In manner.
Others delicate and pretty anu very fright ened
Some LOOK little more tnan children, ewlldered.
The parents are quite commonplace people, and
the bawuS are like their fellows the world over
SNUG scOundrels. The average number or appil-
caLl0ns, many OF them refused, Is about ten daily
DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT.
The whole ~ stem Is based upoa the theory OF a
civil contract When a girl Is forced by her
parents or desires OF her own will TO become a
yujo or "lady or pleasure" the keeper OF a kasht-
zoshiki Is Immediately ready 70 advance 20 Iue
parents q certain sum OF money, say twenty dol.
lars nifty, or IN very exceptional cases perhaps
a hundred The girl, her parents, and a surely
thereupOn enter into y bond Tor her " become an
inmate or his house under The ordinary conditions
for three years, or until the proportion Oh her
earnings which goes 10 the keeper (Iheore ically
One-naID Is suf1cient TO recoup hum Tor the sum
advanced together with his outlay for her Clothes
anu board. should she wish to leave before mis-
complete reimbursement sue must re und all the
money advanced or expended Tor ner up TO that
time. II sue runs away, the keeper RECEIVERS
possession OF her by civil action for debt against
ner Parents and surety-a sort OF parody or The
QrueSOme action Tor restitution OF conlugal rights
But she can escape altogether by getting beyond
her parents reach and leaving tnem settle the
debt. When her time has eX piTed, II the reiunding
process Is complete she Is AT liberty 70 leave or 10
she has no choice And it requires nLtle
knowledge OF the methods o. Inc trade 70 know
that there Will always 0e q balance OF inuebJed-
ness on the girls part Therefore, she stays and
stays She Is not allowed 70 20 OUTSIDE the
YOsniwara without ka,as0tsu or local police
by her maid and q male attendant
a M examination takes Mace OffciaIlv ev.ry