New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-20
TONID'S VICE CRUSADE
The Burned-0ut YoShiWara May
Not Be Rebuilt.
AMERICANS LEADING FIGHT
vigorous Campaign to Prevent
the Restoration of Slave
Girls District.

-HE spirit OF social service in the
churches has reached Japan, and IS
Of the moment expressing itself by
-.-.ruous fight against the rebuilding o.
licensed vice district in Toxic. which
- summed down a few months ago. The
,..sf,yora. as this region is called. Is
- al over the world as the most
famous 81 licensed places for the carrying
- the social evil 1t is far more
S.r,oys than the gayest quarter OF Faris'
- because the West has not IN the past
-, the japanese seriously, people have
~, s~ee 10 talk about the Yoshiwara who
-..,,5 NOT mention the red light district IN
- or Philadelphia Tourists visit u
-,+,ral}v as they visit the Shiba tenn
=. and thew are not always content with
,aopsra upon the show from the outside.
~ the arguments that is being eff
s..,ivelv used IN the present campaign IS
a.. hundreds Of young men from America
80 europe fall every year beneath the
80 nj the Yoshiwara, so that careful
.,+s ara afraid 20 let their cons travel
in Japan
A spectacle the Yoshiwara is GER
,,i,lv without an equal in the world for
g. hind cairo. Por, Said, Shanghai Con-
...-tiraple. san Francisco and all other
...o-,cDslv lax cities have nothing 70 offer
a. ,,-nnetitf1n with this spectacle. An en-
-, district In the city Of Toxic IS de-
- ,o houses Of prostitution. II is I'm the
.-.t-,r- ward. not far .rom eautiful and
...1,~,ot,s Uvsno Park TIE district is
-,,--,-r5eJ bv a high fence so that al
,s.,+ors must enter at one great gate.
-.era and within the YoshiwaTa ITSELF
che notice exercise close supervision. and
80 f- no disorder. When the stream OF
,-slto-s IS So thick as 20 block the dozens
=, s--ae+s inside the fence policemen
80 q, Tire middle of the main roads and
,sen the crowds moving. For aside from
-. large population dependent upon the
voshivsra for livelihood. there are
,b~,rzs OF merely curious sightseers. as
Vel IS Of men who so for revelry. II Is
&C natural for japanese visitors 70 Toxic
>, eo 10 the Yoshiwara as f. is fer visitors
20 New York 10 60 to Wall Street, the
powe-v and the art galleries. one may
see long PROFESSIONS Of jinrickshas' con-
,sf,inr mothers. fathers and children, do
,rr" the Y0shwars every evening.
WOMEN SHOWN IN CAGES.
The sight is o. wonderful albeit a shame
tl one. Every street i'm the Yoshiwara
IS lined ON both sides with houses Of pros
,,,ition. and I'D vie with one another in
disp.av Until the recent fire the build
lnes were among the most elaborate IN
me rttr and each one had in front Of it
q crest cage. or show window, In which
Il. eirIs sat- arrayed IL the most beauti-
ID clothes that tne traveller could see IN
an reuqr Zach house mad some color
,thsmr for lbs inmates. so that the finest
5ancras- taste Is displayed in the apparel
q tr.sa r..l.ed females. who sit IN pa
ue-t rows putting fresh touches OF pow
te- and paint ID their races, or smoking
mu ladies' pines or the more modern and
cigarette OF course, they ac-
ut t.e rlsversov and many have te"
yards .r English for the foreigners.
Cd. al ages and degrees stop 10
lv wien ttc Girls. and it is not Un-
ua-.r ta eee "a mother. with a baby on
o. older children by her side. In
rIr-r .lrversatiou through the bars OF
CAGES There has been little, if
al stigma attached TO this calling
a4I4lhN-lA nov Nt-tAr"
a-rs... Hitherto the inmates OF these
iass H.ra married. as they found favor
VIII VISITORS hy the latter paving their
su $50 olium tncnceforth attached TO
ff.m bso.us. of their former manner "
lfe
Ta, CAGES m which the women are shown
ar urc.. of the real slavery ia which
hsy ar held Most of them are i'm the
Yoshiwara because old Japan thought It
most honorable for "a eilI 10 sell herself
f. or6er to pay her fathers debts. From
ne Sh.uto standpoint these girls are eA-
ample COL dlaI piety. The 500 500 or
~ which "a father receives for his daush-
Ter seldom grows less, as the proprietor
manage O.. keep her in debt for clothes
ana Injuries Even the legislation which
Japaues. reflrmers ana American mission
aries have secured on this subject has
been nearly 3D. dead letter. Slavery has
been actual The only way out for girl
Las been by the hospital Jand, significantly
large hospital is maintained in the Nosh-
iVaTa Tor The inmates and their peculiar
diseases. br marriage or by suicide. The
beautiful .aclGered carvings Of the Dack-
ground OF the cages and the lavish and
lovely dresses do not conceal the horrible
realities behind 81 all.
SIX THOUSAND GIRLS FLEE FIRE.
The population OF the Yoshiwara is indi-
Gated oy the TACT that upon the occasion
Of the recent IRE which destroyed the Nosh-
a4ra the number Of girls who fed from
tae aames-not all successfully, however
vas Officially given as six thousand Prac-
Lcally all of these vs.re kept in hand by
iss propne,crs. who have opened tempo
rsFy quarters 0n the site OF the burned
tlructures
10 the accident Of the fire the advanced
sentiment -f the city and Of the nation
~ he Yosh.wara is really a natona! IN
tlutol-saw an opportunity 10 ABOLISH OF
nitlct this Infamous institution. No one
Eno really knows Japan supDoses fof
Moment that Che equalization Of vice either
oainishes the social evil OF renders IL
aler On the contrary, its oemorahzins
eject upon the nation is such that there IS
y nation on earth which, as Whole
E2etist5 or appreciates sexual purity -es2
} us1 the japanese. The state Of the morals
q Tie student population Of both sexes is
yea as TO give concern TO even the most
lafdened roues among the nation states
usn
ne Christians especially. who try 10
1s'ntain a New Testament standard OF
'Ae' are concerned over the rampant ana
s-aIlsless social evil which puts Japan
lar behind the civilized nations and mas
~eae her FIRST 10 the traffic Of shame. not