Empirical research on procurers and the sexuality and livelihood of licensed prostitutes and geisha

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K00970
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 03020:Japanese history-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: HITOMI Sachiko 近畿大学, 文芸学部, 准教授 (00457029)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 公娼制度 / 娼妓 / 芸妓 / 貸座敷 / 周旋業者 / 性売買 / 遊廓

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research investigates the movement of licensed prostitutes from one brothel to another and their method of repaying debts by analyzing primary sources, including letters written by prostitutes and business records kept by brothel owners and procurers. Through this analysis, my research sheds light on the exploitative nature of modern licensed prostitution and reexamines the perception of licensed prostitutes as autonomous actors within the system.

Free Research Field

女性史

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

近代日本の公娼制度下の性買売の実態を、貸座敷業者・周旋業者および娼妓・芸妓自身が作成した一次史料をもちいて、貸座敷経営の実態、周旋方法、前借金返済の仕組み、娼妓・芸妓の主体性の内実について、実証的に明らかにすることができた。業者による搾取の実態や女性の主体性の内実の解明は、現在の性買売や性搾取の問題、「セックスワーク」論を批判的に検討するうえで今日的意義をもつ。また、「慰安婦」問題に関しても、「慰安婦」制度の歴史的前提である公娼制度の実態の詳細な解明は学術的に重要な意味をもつと考えられる。