Yoshiwara: The Glittering World of the Japanese Courtesan

Rating:
Summary: The Definitive Book on Edo-Era Culture and Prostitution...
Review: For anyone doing serious work on sexuality (Japanese or otherwise), prostitution or Japanese history or even Japanese political culture, "Yoshiwara" is not to be missed. Seigle has written not only a comprehensive, but fascinating and accessable book about the history of the licensed prostitution quarter near (now inside) Tokyo during the Tokugawa Era.

She gives a fascinating (if at times - by necessity - disturbing) look at how sexual politics and popular culture were regulated and maintained during the Tokugawa Shogunate. She gives equal weight to everything from architecture and anecdotes and gives an impressively complete cross-section of life in the district throughout the vast majority of the Yoshiwara's history. The picture she gives is also one that shows rise, evolution and decline of the district in equal importance. Even the cultural impact of the Yoshiwara upon cultural phenomena like style and societal standing are covered in admirable depth.

I have found this book of great use in studies of both Japanese sexuality and urban history. Seigle does a wonderful job of neither romanticizing nor attacking the Yoshiwara, but is (on the whole) content to lay out as complete a history and case study as she can. For any serious student of Japanese history or culture, I recommend not missing this book.

Rating:
Summary: The Definitive Book on Edo-Era Culture and Prostitution...
Review: For anyone doing serious work on sexuality (Japanese or otherwise), prostitution or Japanese history or even Japanese political culture, "Yoshiwara" is not to be missed. Seigle has written not only a comprehensive, but fascinating and accessable book about the history of the licensed prostitution quarter near (now inside) Tokyo during the Tokugawa Era.

She gives a fascinating (if at times - by necessity - disturbing) look at how sexual politics and popular culture were regulated and maintained during the Tokugawa Shogunate. She gives equal weight to everything from architecture and anecdotes and gives an impressively complete cross-section of life in the district throughout the vast majority of the Yoshiwara's history. The picture she gives is also one that shows rise, evolution and decline of the district in equal importance. Even the cultural impact of the Yoshiwara upon cultural phenomena like style and societal standing are covered in admirable depth.

I have found this book of great use in studies of both Japanese sexuality and urban history. Seigle does a wonderful job of neither romanticizing nor attacking the Yoshiwara, but is (on the whole) content to lay out as complete a history and case study as she can. For any serious student of Japanese history or culture, I recommend not missing this book.