Yoshiwara Cherry Blossoms

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Yoshiwara Night Cherry Blossom viewing
(Yoshiwara no yozakura)

***** Location: Edo, Japan
***** Season: Late Spring
***** Category: Observance

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Explanation

Viewing Cherry Blossoms at Night in Yoshiwara
Yoshiwara no Yozakura 吉原の夜桜 (よしわらのよざくら)

In the Edo period, from the first day of March going on for 30 days, the courtesans were allowed to enjoy the cherry blossoms at night. (Some sources say, from the first of April.)
The roads were flanked with lanterns on bamboo poles and small tea shops were set up.
This custom is said to have started in 1749.



It became so famous that even a Kabuki play (Kago Tsurube Sato no Eizame (yoizame) 籠釣瓶花街酔醒 ) was modelled after this event.



Yoshiwara / Wikipedia


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Kuniyoshi, c. 1845
Yoshiwara no Yozakura

©　Curtesy of Japanese Prints

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳)
More in the WIKIPEDIA !


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Worldwide use


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Things found on the way


Courtesans of Yoshiwara and Daruma



吉原のある日露けきとんぼかな　　
Yoshiwara no aru hi tsuyukeki tonbo kana

in Yoshiwara
all wet with dew
a dragonfly

WKD
Kubota Mantaroo 久保田万太郎


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最後の吉原芸者四代目みな子姐さん-吉原最後の証言記録
Diary of Minako, the last Geisha in Yoshiwara


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HAIKU

吉原の夜桜のなかを通ひけり
Yoshiwara no yozakura no naka o toorikeri

I walk along
the Night Cherry Blossoms
of Yoshiwara

野村喜舟 Nomura Kishuu
Tr. Gabi Greve


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Related words

***** Kabuki and Kyogen

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