A Woman of Pleasure by Kiyoko Murata
The year is 1903, and tenacious and spirited Aoi Ichi is sold to the most exclusive brothel in Kumamoto, Japan, becoming the protégée of Shinonome, the oiran, or the highest-ranking courtesan.
Through Shinonome's teachings, fifteen-year-old Ichi begins to understand the intertwined power of sex and money. Education for a courtesan extends beyond the art of seduction, and as Ichi is taught to read and write she develops a voice that refuses to be dampened by the brothel's rigid hierarchy.
Outside the cloistered world of the red-light district, rumours of local worker strikes grow, and as the seasons change in Kumamoto, Ichi, Shinonome and their fellow courtesans begin to wonder how they might redistribute the power and wealth of the brothels among themselves.
Critically acclaimed veteran writer Kiyoko Murata creates in stunning detail the harsh yet vibrant lives of women in a red-light district at the turn of the twentieth century. Based on real-life events, A Woman of Pleasure is a testament to the bonds between women and the power of owning one's language and freedom.
Review
‘A Woman of Pleasure’ is a wonderfully detailed and evocative piece of historical fiction set in Japan, in 1903. Kiyoko Murata is an established author in Japan but this book is her first to be translated into English and I sincerely hope that more will be coming as this was a fascinating and heartwarming read. When I pick up a piece of historical fiction I definitely want to be entertained as a reader but I also want to learn! I'm such a history nerd and I didn't know anything about this section of Japanese history at all. It sent me on many a rabbit hole on a certain search engine! But for me that a good thing as it has piqued my interest and I want to learn even more.
Ichi is a low-born girl from the Southern islands and has been sold into a prestigious brothel in Kumamoto. Although, she is still a child she is taught about the cultural and physical cues they will need in their new position. Their top oiran Shinonome takes her under her wing and becomes her mentor in the ways of pleasure. But Ichi is headstrong and defiant, very unsure in this new world of hers and only takes pleasure in the afternoon lessons at the school for the women.
This is based on real historical events as women began to challenge the status quo, even in such a patriarchal society. One in which they had no power until they learnt about the concept of workers' strikes from nearby dockyards. This emboldens the woman and they begin to take their own destinies into their own hands. ‘A Woman of Pleasure’ is a rich and vibrant historical novel that turned the lens onto an area of history I was not aware of. It was a beautiful piece of writing, full of strong female characters, with a sense that this was an authentic telling!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
