Travel in Old Japan with Ukiyo-e, "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" #2 Shinagawa (5/5)
‘Shinagawa, the Sunrise’, “Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido” drawn by Utagawa Hiroshige
What is Shinagawa-ness that is not drawn?
However, there is one thing that is not depicted in this print of Shinagawa's character. In this print, beyond the four teahouses (2), there are two-storey buildings, which are the inns and shops of the station. In addition to taking care of the guests, many of the inns had women called "meshimori-onna" to take care of the guests at night.
The government allowed women to sell spring in Edo only in Yoshiwara, but because Yoshiwara was very expensive, there were many unofficial places where such women could be found.
“Toto Meisho: The Night Cherry Blossoms of Yoshiwara Nakanomachi”, drawn by Hiroshige Utagawa (owned by Tokyo National Museum), included in ColBase (https://jpsearch.go.jp/item/cobas-48432)
However, "meshimori-onna" were semi-approved, and Shinagawa staiton, which can almost be said to be within Edo, was the most prosperous. For this reason, there were many people who came all the way to Shinagawa station to see the "meshimori-onna".
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