Words’ expressions and meanings change over time. Some words used in the Edo period may have become unfamiliar in the present day. Here, we will focus on the “sexual terminology” used during the Edo period and introduce and explain how they were used at that time.
Yotsumeya
Yotsumeya was a shop located in Ryogoku Yagenbori in Edo that sold sex toys and aphrodisiacs. It can be considered as the equivalent of a modern adult shop. It became well-known, and eventually, synonymous with an adult shop. Additionally, the term “Yotsumeya” sometimes simply referred to sex toys and aphrodisiacs.
[Usage Examples]
From the play “Kyūkanjō” (written by Kanbutei Kion, Bunsei 6)
A man who had come to Edo for business from Echigo (Niigata Prefecture) met a man and a woman at a ryokan in Umaya-cho and went sightseeing in Edo together.
When the man, nicknamed “Echigo”, arrived in Ryogoku with his companions…
Upon reaching Yokoyama-cho from Umaya-cho and Yagenbori… (omitted)… they turned towards Yonezawa-cho. Echigo saw the signboard of Chōmeimaru (lit. Long Life Pill) and said,
“Oh, I’ve heard about this place. It’s Yotsumeya. Well, I have something I want to buy. Everyone, please wait for me.”
Having said that, Echigo stopped by Yotsumeya.
Just by seeing the signboard of Chōmeimaru, he knew it was Yotsumeya.
Chōmeimaru was an aphrodisiac applied to the penis.
From the Shunpon “Azumashi” (around Bunsei 8)
A young couple was having sex, but the man ejaculated prematurely and finished before the woman could reach orgasm. Seeing the dissatisfied expression on the woman’s face…
“In that case, it seems like it was ‘Chon no Ma’ (just a moment) and I couldn’t satisfy you in such a short time. Well then, wait a moment. I have an idea. How about I go to Yotsumeya and buy a yogari-gusuri (arousal medicine), and apply it to ‘rekosa’ and go at it again?”
The man said.
“Chon no ma” refers to a short period of time. It also refers to a short encounter of about ten to fifteen minutes at a low-cost brothel.
Also, “rekosa” is a euphemistic way of saying “kore” (this), with “sa” as a suffix. He suggests using Yotsumeya’s arousal medicine and putting it on “kore”, which means applying it to the penis and then having sex again. It could be seen as a determined effort to restore his honor.
Although the man refers to it as “yogari-gusuri” (arousal medicine), since it is used by applying it to the penis, it is likely Chōmeimaru.
Yotsumeya was his last hope.
From the play “Musume Shōji” (written by Kyokusannin, Tenpō 7)
A fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl named Obeso and a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl named Otoha are both middle-class town girls. While discussing trivial matters such as where they would like to get married, Obeso mentioned that the business houses in Ryogoku would be good. When Otoha asked for the name of the shop…
Be: “Oh, you’re not good at guessing. What’s that? Oh, it’s Yotsumeya. Ohohohoho.”
Otoha: “Oh my, that’s the shop that sells Chōmeimaru, right?”
Be: “Yes, I heard there’s plenty of things like Imori’s black glaze.”
Otoha: “Oh my, how unpleasant. So, if there’s plenty of Imori’s black glaze, what would you do?”
Be: “In that case, I would entice all the men I like and catch plenty of handsome men.”
Otoha: “Oh my, that’s truly unfaithful.”
This is an example of the conversation between cheeky young Edo girls.
“Imori’s black glaze” is also an aphrodisiac.
Obeso and Otoha would be equivalent to junior high school students in terms of current age. It was not an exaggeration that such girls knew about Yotsumeya and aphrodisiacs and casually used them as a topic for jokes.
Currently, due to various regulations, it is not possible for adult shops to have stores near junior high schools or along school routes or display flashy signboards. They usually operate in one corner of the entertainment district.
However, during the Edo period, there were no regulations regarding adult shops or adult goods based on educational or moral reasons. It was a time when it could be described as either recklessness or broad-mindedness.
It was not surprising that Obeso and Otoha knew about Yotsumeya and its products and used them as a subject for jokes.
Yotsumeya is also mentioned in the guidebook of famous shops and long-established stores in Edo called “Edo Kaimono Dokuan” (published in Bunsei 7).
Written by Nagai Yoshio
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