The Pain of the Yoshiwara

[Animya]

Ok, so basically an RP I started a long time ago on another site, and it died on me in 2011. And it has really bummed me out up onto the point that I really, really want to revive it into what it was in its "glory-days".


Here goes nothing!


Genre


History/Romance/Action


Time and Place


Japan, (neo-)feudal


Story


War is raging in feudal Japan. All we know is vanishing, the shogun is reaching his breaking point, the bakufu (the shoguns protectors) are no longer believed to be righteous. People from the west, the foreigners, have the advantage with their modern-age weaponry. Old-style, samurai worthy, sword clashing fights no longer exist.


We are Edo (modern-day Tokyo) the walled Yoshiwara, the world of delight. Were willows and flowers are more than nature's product of green. It's a way of going to heaven, and back. Pay the price, and you will go further than any man has gone. You want more, you can get more, you want a boy, let's get two. Just put your money there, it will all be spend.


We play our everyday life in the Yoshiwara, and sometimes even outside. The cruel reality in this harsh world.


Purpose of the RP


This RP has more of a story than it has a purpose or a goal. That's why it doesn't matter if you get tired of your character. You can easily make him/her leave and take another if you want. You can even get killed if wanted, it will give a nice twist to the story.


Magic and Powers


Not applicable


Creatures: Flora and Fauna


Same as it was back then, please keep in mind Japanese flora and fauna is not, and was not always the same as ours. You can always look it up, Google is your best friend. I don't mind some inaccuracies though, you can't keep everything correct.


Writers Perspective


Past tense, he/she perspective


Rules

• No god-modding!!!
  
• Respect the other players, don't decide if they get hurt or not
  
• No one liners
  
• Do not join the IC until I have said your CS is OKAY!
  
• Most of all, have fun

Character Requirements

• The age must be between thirty and six.
  
• I don't want all boys or all girls, so keep the numbers even please
  
• You can have more than one main-character if you want to
  
• Everyone plays side-characters, if you decide to play one, it's yours for the whole time until you give anyone the permission to play with them
  
• If you have a side-character you think to be important, give me a bit of explanation of his appearance and personality.
  
• Variety please.

Character Sheet


Just fill in the blanks. I'll judge the CS for every person differently. I'll give you some guidelines. Please Post the Character sheet between CODE-codes. I'm lazy, and that way I can simply copy past.

Spoiler

[b]Last Name[/b]:
[b]Name(s)[/b]:
[b]Age[/b]:
[b]Sex[/b]:
[b]Position/Job*[/b]:

[b][u]Looks**:[/u][/b]
[b]Body[/b]:
[b]Hair[/b]:
[b]Eyes[/b]: 
[b]Skin color[/b]:
[b]Clothing[/b]:
[b]Overall first impression[/b]:
[b]Other[/b]:

[b][u]Character:[/u][/b]
[b]Likes[/b]:
[b]Dislikes[/b]:
[b]Personality [/b]:
[b]Strong sides[/b]:
[b]Weak sides[/b]:
[b]Hobby's[/b]:
[b]Gift[/b]:.

[b]Background:[/b]

[b][u]Skills[/u][/b]:
[b]Development[/b]:
[b]Crafts[/b]:
[b]Social abilities[/b]:

[b][u]Possessions[/u][/b]:
[b]Personal belongings[/b]:
[b]Weapons[/b]:

*Special Positions

• Samurai Military nobility. Those who serve in close attendance to the nobility. Fighters who follow the rules known as Bushidō.
  
• Geisha 'Art-person' A traditional female entertainer, skilled in performing japanse arts such as classical music and dance.
  
• Maiko 'Dance-child' An apprentice Geisha <21, has an 'onee-san' (older Geisha, acting as mentor)
  
• Oiran 'Women of pleasure' The courtesans of the Yoshiwara. Also considered a type of yūjo of prostitute. They were also entertainers, many are celebrities of the district. If bought, they are property of their Daimyo and are obliged to have sex with them at command.
  
• Danna A patron, typically a wealthy man, maybe even married. He is the one that supports the very large expenses related to a geisha's traditional training and other costs. A Geisha and Danna are not always in a sexual relationship, it is more a gift. The do not even have to love each other
  
• Daimyo Mostly territorial lords, they buy Oirans, as women for their harem.
  
• Otoo-san Father The one that owns the brothel/house of delight/, in charge of money, punishment etc.
  
• Okaa-san Mother The one that is above all Courtesans and maids, she makes sure everyone is trained, skilled and perfectly presentable. She also takes care of appointments and such.

**May be a picture but please make a description (short) along with it.


--------------------------------------------------


I hope you'll see something in this RP

 

[Animya]

CHARACTERS


Animya


Mio - 22 - Female - Geisha of Metsuki no Kaoku


Last Name: Kimura


Name(s): Mio (Beautiful cherry blossom)


Age: 22


Sex: Female


Position/Job*: Geisha


Looks**:


Body: Slim, neat curves,


Hair: Traditional, straight black hair, reaching her knee-cavities.


Eyes: A bright color of green


Skin color: Pale, almost ivory colored


Clothing: She has many kimono's which she wears for performances and such. When alone she wears simple yukatas.


Overall first impression: Mysterious


Other: As a Geisha she paints her face white, her teeth black, a red flower petal on her lips. Her cheeks and eyes reddish pink and has multiple accessories and such.


Character:


Likes: Music, dancing, singing, reading, poetry


Dislikes: Angry men, her 'mother', following lessons, punishment


Personality: Mio is a warm, loving person. Who is always willing to listen to anyone's hard time while not bothering to see her own.


Strong sides: Even though she doesn't look like it, she's physically very strong.


Weak sides: Doesn't like to talk about her family and background because she still misses them. Does not want to be remembered of the debt she still has.


Hobby's: Singing


Gift: Great Shamisen player, with a excellent singing/poetry voice


Background: Mio is the fourth child of two poor parents, who had a nest of five. With two older brothers a twin-sister and a younger brother she was the one 'fortunate' enough to be sold to the Geisha-House 'Metsuki no Kaoku' House of the Eye. Her brothers worked on the land with her parents and her twin was already a maid for some rich family. She was sold when she turned six and was trained every since to be a Geisha, and had to work of her debt, which she is still doing. She was officially made into a Geisha when she was fourteen, the youngest great Geisha of the Yoshiwara ever. She was gifted, and that was exploited. Even though her room is filled with gifts, she feels like she's living in a cage.


Skills:


Development: She can read, sing, play the Shamisen, dance, make and read poetry


Crafts: Same


Social abilities: She has no connections in the Yoshiware except for lady that runs the most famous teahouse of the whole walled city, 'The Green Leaf'. It's her friend, Ayako.


Possessions:


Personal belongings: Nothing


Weapons: None


Valerié - 15 - Female - (apprentice) Courtesan of Corner of Yoshiwara


Last Name: Sargent


Name(s): Valerié "Sayuri" (Small Lily)


Age: 15


Sex: Female


Position/Job*: Apprentice Courtesan


Looks:


Body: Slim, blooming curves, taller than the Japanese, fine hands, long nails


Hair: Bright blond, with a slight curl in it.


Eyes: Almost black


Skin color: Normal caucasian


Clothing: When in the cage it's a kimono given to her by the house, when 'free' it's a simply cotton yukata.


Overall first impression: Wild


Other: She has golden earrings.


Character:


Likes: Freedom, dancing, France, ships, animals


Dislikes: Being caged in, the Yoshiwara, needy men, okaa-san, otoo-san, her teacher Junko


Personality : A wild-child with an own will, one who needs to be free and do her thing


Strong sides: Can be stand-vast, though knows when to shut her mouth and be obedient


Weak sides: Isn't used to sleeping with men, pleasuring them


Hobby's: Playing with her former dog, lazing around in the garden of her old house on the seashore


Gift: Agile


Background: Valerié is the child of a army-officer. She, along with her whole family, moved to Japan to fight alongside them against the English. Her father was a loyal man, devoted to his friends and the army. After he was killed in the battle for the Shogun's house they hunted down their entire family. Valerié was able to escape only to see her mother and brother be killed, but she had no idea where to go. So when someone offered 'help' she took it with both hands, being at wits end. That stranger gave her to the brothel called "Corner of Yoshiwara" it's a famous brother being one for the excellent 'services' they offer. At the moment she is still in the cage open for bids and buying. But nobody is interested in here, because she is a foreigner. She's an exception to the rule of black hair in the Yoshiwara, the boss decided to show her hair to the public. Be it as an attraction or as a beauty.


Skills:


Development: She can read latin letters, not japanese. She barely speaks the language so it's hard to communicate.


Crafts: Same


Social abilities: None, she's still in learning and locked in.


Possessions:


Personal belongings: None but a necklace given to her by her mother. It's gold and has a 'V' on it.


Weapons: None, though she has a Halberd on the wall in her room


Midori - 6 - Apprentice/Maid


Last Name:


Name(s): Midori


Age: 6


Sex: Female


Position/Job*: Maid of Junko and Sayuri, apprentice


Looks**:


Body: Slim, short and fragile. [about 105cm]


Hair: Long black, straight hair. Reaching her buttocks, always tied back in a braid or tail.


Eyes: Piercing bright green


Skin color: Palish white


Clothing: Bright red kimono with rough/wide darker sewing/stiches on the hems and sleeves. On the end of the wide sleeves there are tiny golden bells that ring when she walks. She wears a black/dark red obi around it, with sakura pettles embroided on it with golden-like thread, and has merely one pair of flat geta.


Overall first impression: Innocent and cheery


Other: Ringing, chirpy voice with a bright tone to it.


Character:


Likes: Animals, nice people, her sisters, Tara, her work, nice hair-pieces


Dislikes: Bad people, angry people, sometimes okaa-san and otoo-san, punishment, disorder


Personality : Cheerfully and happy at most times, always wants to do what's best and tries her hardest to please everyone


Strong sides: Always stays strong and happy, laughs everything away, with a smile on her face.


Weak sides: Is physically very weak, can endure a large amount of pain, but breaks down afterwards.


Hobby's: Singing, playing and being around Tara and Sayuri.


Gift: Can almost always cheer sad people up by her own natural happiness.


Background: She can not remember anything from her parents, nor does she know if she has siblings or for that matter where she came from. Her first memory was that of Corner of Yoshiwara, she was raised by okaa-san and soon placed under Junko's care to train her as a maid and maybe, if she behaved an courtesan. Though she has seen enough violence in her short life, she still wants to be the same as Junko and Sayuri, not realizing what it would take from her. When Tara arrived to look after Sayuri she was ecstatic, for most young men were made to leave or disposed of shortly after they arrived. She merely hoped Tara would last longer, she liked the special eyes he had and the eccentric hair his scalp wore.


Skills:


Development: None


Crafts: None


Social abilities: Can talk like no other


Possessions:


Personal belongings: None


Weapons: None

 

[Plume]

Still working on my character, I'll get him posted as soon as I can. ^^

 

[Animya]

s'kay :3

 

[amdreams]

Last Name: Tsubaki


Name(s): Michiyo


Age: 21


Sex: female


Position/Job*: Oiran of Corner of Yoshiwara (full fledged but still a bit low in ranks, no sister, no maid (or maybe I'll make a maid character later . . . I'm not sure))


Looks**:


Body: 5'2", a bit thin with gentle curves, small hands and feet


Hair: black hair that falls to about her mid-thigh in soft waves


Eyes: a pale icy blue color due to ocular albinism


Skin color: pale white skin


Clothing: She has a kimono given to her by the house and some hair pins for "entertaining" her patrons but wears a pale blue and white cotton yukata when not on duty.


Overall first impression: delicate


Other: Due to her albinism,she is partially blind in both eyes. She can see general shapes and colors but no real details. She usually distinguishes people by the sound of their voice and herself has a soft, rather husky voice.


Character:


Likes: Music, flowers (even though she can't really see them), the night sky, her patrons, the kokyu


Dislikes: people who call her just a "wh*re", bright lights


Personality : Michiyo has a rather apathetic personality and can't really remember anything she was truly passionate about. She likes a lot of things and a lot of people but she doesn't really love anyone or anything. Rather quiet, there aren't many things that can pierce her somewhat stoic mask. She can be rather blunt and doesn't really think too much about others' feelings. Still, she is civil during evenings and always greets her patrons with a soft smile. She can be rather stubborn should she choose to be.


Strong sides: She is rather . . . "skilled" at her job and is very used to "entertaining" her patrons. She's also a gifted kokyu player.


Weak sides: Though she is polite to her patrons, when asked a question, she can reverts back to her blunt self. She also cannot stay out in the sun too long which makes it difficult for her to find more patrons on her own. She relies mostly on the recommendations of her current ones. (Do they even do that sort of thing?)


Hobby's: playing kokyu


Gift: Kokyu player


Background: Michiyo doesn't have many memories of her family before she was sold to the Corner at the age of five. Partially due to her young age at the time and partially due to her poor vision even then. She remembers always being a rather sickly child, never being allowed to go places that were bright white (places with a lot of light). She also remembers her mother's soft lullabies, her father's tight hugs and her supposedly twin brother, Takeshi, bringing her flowers which at the time (and now) only looked like blurs of color. She believes that they must've run into some financial issues since the winter before she was sold off, she remembered being hungry a lot.


Her training took a bit longer than it did with most girls due to her disability. The owner was worried about her appeal seeing as she was not only sickly but also visually impaired. Fortunately for her, she grew out of her weak appearance and showed enough talent with the kokyu to make up for her poor vision. She was finally able to take on her first patron at the age of 15*. From then on, it was the same sort of thing day in and day out. However she is very used to this lifestyle, since these are the first memories she can clearly remember and it's all she knows.


*I'm assuming that's late because a site said the average Oiran took on patrons at the age of 12 or 13.


Skills:


Development: Michiyo can't read or write, but she can do Japanese tea ceremony, and play the kokyu.


Crafts: Same?


Social abilities: She is fairly straightforward but is professional enough to act refined while entertaining a patron. She is an excellent speaker when working.


Possessions:


Personal belongings: none


Weapons: none


I've still got a male character or two coming. Also, most of my info comes from wikipedia so forgive me if I get things wrong.

 

[Animya]

Yay for the char. Michiyo seems nice, I got some things though. I always do.


1. So she's an Oiran, which house and what's her position. Is she beginning in the ranks, is she fullfledged, does she have an older 'sister'. Does she have a maid/help. Yes/no?


2. Oirans are even if they do not wished to be called such, prostitutes. They have next to no belongings (usually) and are to be bought. They make little money and are in no way able to get their hands on nice kimonos. Thus I wonder how she gets to own her kimonos which she wears. Were they given to her by her visitors, why was she allowed to keep them.


3. In which way has she proven herself to be useful to her house being partly blind. Oirans are for the sole purpose of entertaining their visitors, and a child with sickly features and limitations is generally speaking not one to chose as an ideal candidate to do such a thing. Please elaborate on this in the BG...


4. Peculiar interest to like the royalties, especially in the times which we portray. But fine by me anyway. Just kidding it must be a typo, you meant Kokyu right? Love that instrument, well chosen! (Might use this as explanation for #3.) Remember Kokyu, not Kokyo (royal house) I saw it a second time in the last section.


5. Strong/Weak sides, it's not wrong, but not exactly what I meant. Could you explain a bit about things Michiyo is good in, par example playing the Kokyu, some other things, maybe seeking contacts with her patrons and the opposite for weaknesses?


6. Ikebana is a skill mostly reserved for Geisha's, it's not a skill Oirans need for their profession, and certainly not one taken the time to be taught to them. Remember, they're prostitutes, low in the social hierarchy, especially in the Yoshiwara...


7. You say she was sold to the Yoshiwara, which is close to impossible. You should see the Yoshiwara as a secluded part of a city. In it are shops, brothels and okiya's. Teahouses, small shops for skilled craftsman to do the hair/clothing of the employees etc. It's practically a city, you are bought by one of its 'places' make up a brothel, create a name for it, or you could joing the Corner. Just saying. Your BG is a bit vague, but with reason so that's fine. IC you might want to explain/elaborate a bit more.


8. As for social abilities, in personality you said she was straightforward and honest but in the proximity of her patrons is skilled. That's a social ability, she can uphold a front of being refined for other people, you should see it as a short spot to post if she's socially awkward, a fine talker, a flirt etc. :')


Try and alter it a bit around these 'guide-lines' and I'll review it again. I hope it's become a bit clearer with this.

 

[amdreams]

Sorry for all the mistakes. Like I said before, all my info came from the wikipedia page for Oiran and other links I saw on google, which isn't really much. I mean there are plenty of links but not much info in each one. It said that oirans are typically educated in various skills like ikebana and wore elaborate kimonos for "entertaining" patrons and for the courtesan parade. But then again, it's wikipedia so unreliable. I'll get to fixing it. Give me a day. I've got to watch this documentary on the tayu first.

 

[Animya]

No problem, yeah I've had some arguments with Wiki before, it says the Yoshiwara is purely a prostitution-place, which it wasn't/isn't. Well anyhow. It's not like you can't have her learn ikebana, and such, just give an explanation. And yes they do wear those kimono's, but they certainly do not own them... 's kay :3

 

[kokonimo]

Hey, Animya~! Don't act like you don't know me, lol.


I'd like to *apply* to be a part of this future thread. The character I'd like to register's information is below. I'm open to suggestions and will answer (hopefully) any questions you have. Thank you~


~~~~~~


kokonimo's Character List

Narimune - 19 - Male - Houkan of The House of Cloven Blossom


Last Name: Fujiwara


Name(s): Narimune


Age: 19


Sex: Male


Position/Job*: Male Geisha (Houkan--modern term is 'Taikomochi')


Looks**:


Body: Slender, about 5' 7"


Hair: Wavy, dark brown hair to the mid of his back (darker than picture). He binds it into a tight, high knot during performances.


Eyes: Dark, dark brown; they twinkle when he laughs, burn when he frowns


Skin color: Deep; (un)luckily, he doesn't get much sun


Clothing: Simple, thin cotton kimono when not performing, dark brown in color, tied with a patterned obi


Overall first impression: Sophisticated, yet not from around here


Other: He cleans up well when it comes time for his performance. While performing, he wears a thick, navy blue, jacquard print kimono with a white, patterned obi and white under-kimono. His accessory during performances is a folding fan which is used to illustrate the story.


Character:


Likes: Attention (Narimune loves to steal the show); Salty things


Dislikes: Female Geisha, save a few; Judgment by others


Personality : Still waters run deep; Can be persnickety; Passive-aggressive to a point


Strong sides: Calm in the face of turmoil


Weak sides: Got a bit of a chip on his shoulder, eh


Hobby's: Teasing; Studying dance; Selecting vegetables for his garden


Gift: Extemporaneous--works best under pressure


Background: Narimune loves the earth, he misses it. He misses running through the open fields at home--in the opposite direction of his father who came to persuade him back to work (with a switch). See, although he loved being outside, he hated tending the family's sugarcane. He'd rather be at the hole-in-the-wall inns, peeping through the cracks to watch the singing performances. In this way, he learned the songs and storytelling of his community--and of Tokugawa's enmity towards them. Huh... there was something beyond his island after all.


When given a chance to accompany a delivery of sugarcane product to a western daimyo on the central island, Narimune jumped at the chance. It wasn't too hard for him to separate from the party; Narimune had talked (or rather, yelled) it over with his family and his mind was set. He, being from the south with no family or connections on Honshu, started his new life with nothing save the clothes on his back and a newly adopted name. Hey, he had to blend in with the locals. Thanks to the performances he witnessed as a youth on Amami Ooshima, he eventually found 'real' work in the east, at Edo's Yoshiwara, as a Houkan or male Geisha. What *extra* he earns outside of room and board, he puts in the hands of a friend who holds it in the form of a small land investment so that he may one day reap its profits with his family. Narimune's friend tends the land in his stead. Every few months, the friend comes to visit, bringing along any new harvests that small patch of land might have produced. Narimune has such great friends.


Skills:


Development: Storyteller and comedian by trade, but also a serious dancer--shhh, don't tell!


Crafts: He will serve you tea for the right price.


Social abilities: Social butterfly with guests; stand-offish with his colleagues. He's got a few recurring clients--he's sure the geisha don't mind.


Possessions:


Personal belongings: His secret garden! Small patch of land tended in his honor by a friend. He's never seen it, though.


Weapons: None, unless you want to count his smoking pipe.

 

[Animya]

Ok, I'm not going to beat around the bush... I'm just going to list things I feel are a bit... off. Don't take it personally.


Firstly, which house does he serve? He's a male Geisha, an entertainer, right? Or is he a prostitute that just won't get off of his high horse.


What do you mean with 'deep' skin color, is it dark, light, pale, milk-colored, porcelain, standard Caucasian, with a teint... anything?


Honestly, kimono's aren't usually worn in spare-time in my memory at least. It'd probably be a yukata, or maybe even a hakama-set? Look into that a bit more, especially for his performance too.


The character section is pretty meager. I really would like for you to go a bit more in depth... I said the same thing to amdreams, so don't be offended.


As for the BG, it's not much, but enough. However I do want you to clarify some things.


How old was he when he accompanied them to the main-island?


How did he survive up until the point of going into training?


Both geisha as well as oiran need to train for years (at least 1 to 2 for oirans) I can't imagine him finishing his training within the year and becoming who he is now within the next half a year.


Besides they usually don't take older students, unless they're pretty damn promising, seeing as he is male, it'd be even more difficult.


As for crafts, selling tea for the right price isn't one in my eyes. A craft could be his ability to do a perfect, flawless tea-ceremony or something like that.


And who is this friend you talk about?


It's highly unlikely for his friend to be allowed inside the yoshiwara as a merchant for an geisha if he is not of great value to his house... please look into that.


And like I said, I have high standards for this RP. a CS is very important to the other players, treat it seriously. no need for smiley-faces. We good?

 

[kokonimo]

Animya, so as not to detract from the purpose of this thread, I will be contacting you directly. I don't think our tones of story-telling will match for this rp--and there's nothing at all wrong with that! Thank you for your consideration, though!


~~~~~


Although I'd like to withdraw my character from this rp, I thought I'd include the answers to some of your points should you or anyone else have been curious:


* House is at the very top of the post, "The House of Cloven Blossom". He is a male Geisha, yes, an entertainer. To make sure we're on the same page as to what his position /is/ exactly, here's a website: http://www.mitene.or.jp/~houkan/2002/e00.html#MOKUJI Narimune will not turn down an additional inquiry should he have one; in other words, he's open to doing extra favors for the guest if they inquire about it.


* The picture would probably be the best indication of his skin-color. Olive-y, but more with a red undertone. Does that help? He's from far south.


* Were they really called yukata at this point in time? Kimono can be anything you wear, and the term alone can point to a number of different styles. I like the idea of the hakama-set. That sounds good!


* More depth for the character section, I can do this.


* As for background, I can flesh it out by answering some of the points you raised. "Selling tea" is a euphemism, not a standard part of his training, especially not for his position. This isn't "historically-based" or anything, just my way of saying that, yes, he offers extra services. I see what you mean about it not being a "craft" the way it's worded, but I don't want to lose the veiled meaning either, I can work on that, along with everything else.

 

[Animya]

Ok, now I'm confused, are you pulling out or not?


Arrasou, I got it. Basically, in my mind it just doesn't add up all too good. Sorry it wasn't what you expected. I told you already I'm very picky and fussy about character sheets.

 

[kokonimo]

I understand, and that's okay! I'm sorry, too. To confirm, yes, I am pulling out. Just saving us both future heartache. Now, I won't detract from your rp anymore--go on ahead with the recruiting! This has great potential!