The Yoshiwara: Not a place to rest your head

[Animya]

Japan, feudal-Japan.
Edo, current-time Tokyo.
The walled 'city' of Yoshiwara, Red Light District.
The Corner of Yoshiwara, most famous brothel of the walled city.

The sun was going under, the shadows were creeping their way in and the streets were getting restless. It was almost sundown in Edo, and the moon would almost make its first appearance. Young Oiran’s were already in the cages, Geisha’s and Maiko’s were preparing to meet their first customers, and entertain all others, while the older Oiran’s were still preparing. Painting their face white with rice powder, their cheeks pink with dusk and their lips red with crimson red plaster. The drums of high men nearing are to be heard, and the clock of opening will soon be clanged. The houses were enlightened by small candles, making them look almost haunted and deserted except for an occasional shadow passing behind the curtains. The rice paper doors didn’t hold any sound within the houses, they let everyone hear. Two heavy guards were resting against the only opening in the thick wall surrounding all of this Akasen district, carrying western-styled weapons as well as long Halberds. You could not pass unnoticed. Little girls with bright red kimono’s and tingling bells on their sleeves ran with hair-ornaments and clothing in their hands to give them to their masters. Young boys in simple dark kimono roamed the street waiting for their masters to arrive and give them a command. Fugitives hid in the shadows of little houses. Whispers came from every street corner and every window, was it true that the samurai had overthrown those in northern Japan, had they really won back that small piece of land? Was this really the beginning of a new-old world? This was the real life of those in the Yoshiwara.

*As would be clear right about now I'm searching for a male counterpart with, preferably, a bit of knowledge of Japan [if not, no worry, you won't be shot, and I'll give you a cookie for comfort.]. But please, please, PLEASE people, don't say you know everything because you've read/saw 'Memoires of a Geisha', I don't know everything myself, but some facts shown there are indeed inaccurate. Also, don't be toooooo educational about my use of language [excuse me] as I'm from Holland and I try my best to live up to the current expectations that stand here for me. Also the Yoshiwara is quite simply said the same as it is in the books. If you want to know more, just leave a message, post, pm. Don't care, just let me know, one way or the other.

[Animya]

*bump for justice*