oirán

Oiran is the term used for the top-ranking courtesans in Japan’s Edo-period pleasure districts, most famously in Yoshiwara, the licensed red-light district of Edo (modern Tokyo). The word literally refers to the leading or noble courtesan, and oiran were the celebrated women who set fashion, etiquette, and taste within the brothels and their social sphere.

Oiran were trained from a young age in refined arts and social conduct. They studied music, dance, poetry, tea ceremony, and conversation, and they were expected to entertain clients with elegance, wit, and cultural knowledge. Their presentations would include elaborate attire, sophisticated behavior, and distinguished hairstyles and makeup. Within the brothel system, oiran occupied the highest tier and commanded higher fees and more influence than other courtesans.

The role of an oiran was distinct from that of geisha. Geisha were professional entertainers who supported themselves through performance and companionship, often at a range of venues. Oiran, by contrast, were associated with the brothel hierarchy and were regarded as the premier providers of luxury and sophistication in the pleasure districts. The position came with strict rules and supervision by brothel owners and managers, and it could determine a courtesan’s career, status, and earnings.

With the Meiji era and the modernization of Japanese society, the licensed pleasure districts and the traditional oiran system declined. Today, oiran are primarily studied as historical figures and are depicted in literature, film, and ukiyo-e prints, where they symbolize the aesthetics and social dynamics of Edo-period urban culture.