Yuukaku

A Yuukaku in Tokyo, photoed in 1872

Yuukaku(遊廓 (ゆうかく)) meant the regions in Japan where brothels recognized by the government are situated.[1] In theory, prostitution was only legal in the Yuukaku region, but there were some places where prostitution was provided illegally (e.g. Okabasho 岡場所 (おかばしょ)).

In January 1946, GHQ issued an order (SCAPIN 642) nationwide to abolish Japan's licensed prostitution system, and the brothels in Yuukaku had to change their name to café (カフェ) or ryōtei (料亭 (りょてい)), which transformed the Yuukaku into Akasen (赤線 (あかせん)) regions.

After the Anti-Prostitution Law (売春防止法) was enforced in 1956, prostitution became banned in Japan, and as such the Yuukaku finally came to an end, though illegal prostitution still continues in Japan.

See also

References

  1. ↑ [遊郭]『大百科事典. 第25巻』 (平凡社, 1939)
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