Words used during the Edo period. There are words that were spoken with unexpected meanings or used in completely different ways from the present. Here, we will introduce words related to sexuality that were used in Edo.
Tobosu
It refers to sexual intercourse. In the inscription of Shunpon or Shunga, it is often expressed as “kōgōsu” and read as “tobosu.”
Usage Examples
From Shunpon’s “Emaki Haru no Nishiki” (by Kitao Yukikō, during the Meiwa era)
A landlord approaches the wife of a tenant.
Landlord: “Please, let’s have some tobosu. I’ll defer the rent.”
Wife: “Oh, that’s inappropriate, landlord-sama. What will happen if my husband returns?”
The landlord is demanding that the rent be paid with “the body” of the tenant’s wife.
From Shunpon’s “Hana no Ikkyōshō” (by Torimonsai Eishi, around the 8th year of Tenmei era)
A man approaches a maid passing by the corridor carrying a hand candle.
Maid: “Hey, be discreet.”
Man: “You’re not clever. Put out that candle. Instead, let’s tobosu over here.”
Putting out the candle of the hand candle and instead engaging in tobosu is a play on words. It means to have sex in the dark.
From Shunpon’s “Enpon Yōnafu Mai Ki” (by Kitagawa Utamaro, during the 2nd Year of Kyōwa era)
A husband and wife are having sex during the daytime. A woman who peeked through the window’s lattice murmurs.
Woman: “It’s impossible to keep tobosu like this day and night.”
They seem to be a couple known for their passion for each other in the neighborhood.
During that time, wooden houses had many gaps, so it was not surprising for daytime sex to be peeped at.
From “Gaidan Bunbunshūyō” (compiled by Ishizuka Toyohakusha)
In the entry for Bunka 6 (1809) in the same book, it is written as follows:
Recently, the word “tobosu” is becoming popular, which is a euphemism for sexual intercourse between men and women.
It seems that “tobosu” had already become established in Edo during the late Edo period.
From Shunpon’s “Kaihon Fujoroku Kasen” (by Utagawa Kunimaru)
A man boasting of his stamina tries to engage in multiple rounds of sex. A courtesan says.
Courtesan: “We can do it as much as you want since it’s our job, but if you tobosu so much, it’s harmful to your body. If you want to tobosu one more time, take a little break.”
From Shunpon’s “Tabi Makura Gojūsantsugi” (by Utagawa Kunimori, during the Bakumatsu period)
A man and a woman are engaged in intercourse during the daytime at Odawara-juku on the Tōkaidō.
Man: “This is called Odawara Chouchin(lantern), it’s famous for tobosu here.”
Woman: “But isn’t it strange to tobosu during the daytime? It’s embarrassing when it’s so bright. Oh, what should we do? Hm hm hm hm, oh, it feels good, it feels good, let’s do it, let’s do it.”
They make a pun by connecting the use of the word “tobosu” (meaning sexual intercourse) with “tomosu” (meaning the lighting up the lantern).
Odawara lantern is a small, narrow lantern that can be folded and attached to the waist when not in use and stretched out when used.
Written by Nagai Yoshio
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