The Prosperity of the Daimonjiro in Shin Yoshiwara by Utagawa Kunichika

Summary
● Author: Kunichika
● Publisher: Tsujikameban
● Publication Year: Meiji Era
● Number of Volumes: 3
● Commentary: 3-Panel Nishikie

Daimonjiya, one of the three major brothels in Shin Yoshiwara. The first Bunro (year of birth unknown) was the owner of the Daimonjiya brothel in Shin Yoshiwara. He was commonly known as Ichibei. Bunro was a pen name. A man of the same name, known as a kyoka poet (Kyo-nama Kahocha Motonari), had his adopted son (Ichibei) appear in the play Berabou.

overview

Bunro was originally from Ise Province and is said to have opened a brothel in Shin-Yoshiwara in 1750 (Kan’en 3). Initially, he operated a low-class riverside establishment, but in 1752 (Horeki 2), he moved to Kyomachi 1-chome (4-40-6 Senzoku, Taito Ward, Taito Ward Yoshiwara Park) and took the name “Daimonjiya,” becoming one of the leading store owners. It seems that he originally called his business Murataya, after his family name, but after a dispute with his family, his shop curtain was confiscated. He apparently replaced the curtain with a new one when he moved, adding the character “Dai” (大) to create the new name. His wife was Souou Naisho (real name Naka), a well-known female kyoka poet in the Yoshiwara ren. He later adopted the second Bunro (Ichibei), who apparently married him and succeeded him as the second head of the family. He died in 1780 (An’ei 9) at the age of just over 60. His posthumous Buddhist name is said to be Shakubutsu Myokaho Shinji. Even his posthumous Buddhist name is Pumpkin, to match his stage name!

Known as an eccentric, when he still had a riverside shop he would buy large quantities of pumpkins to serve as prepared meals for his courtesans, earning him the nickname “Pumpkin (Kabocha) Ichibei.” It’s also said that the name comes from his large head and short stature, leading to teasing such comments as, “Here comes a pumpkin from Kyomachi Omonjiya. Its name is Ichibei. It’s short, and it really does have monkey eyes. How cute, how cute.” However, he would go ahead and sing and dance to the song, which ended up promoting his shop. This song spread from Yoshiwara to all of Edo, becoming a popular song, and many parodies were written. He also had a love of gardening, and after devising a way to add spots to a Japanese pine orchid, he was given the name “Bunro Madara” (Bunro Madara).

[The great name of Daimonjiro, Tagasode]
“Daimonjiya’s Tagasode” painted by Utamaro at the Seiro Shichikomachi

The Great Name of Daimonjiya, Tagasode, Utamaro

In the 2025 NHK Taiga drama “Berabou: Tsutajueika no Yumebanashi,” Haruka Fukuhara plays Tagasode, a courtesan from Daimonjiya.

In the Yoshiwara Saimin (Yoshiwara Guidebook) created by Tsutaya Juzaburo, the name of each courtesan at Daimonjiya is written with “Yobidashi” next to “Tagasode.”

At the time, among the high-class courtesans of Yoshiwara, Yobidashi were the most prestigious. They were truly courtesans worthy of the great name of Daimonjiya.

Taresode is no longer included in the Yoshiwara Saimin published in New Year’s Day in 1784 (Tenmei 4). This was the year she was bought by Tsuchiyama Sojiro.

The Manzai Kyokashu (Collection of All Kyoka Poems), published in the New Year of 1783 (Tenmei 3), was edited by Shikata Akara and Shura Sugae. The publisher, Suharaya Ihachi, collected 748 poems by 232 poets. One of these was Dare Sode. She wrote, “I have long prayed for this paper case, so that I will not forget it. And yet, I long for you even more.”

The courtesans of the time were well-versed in all arts and even kyoka poetry.

Dare Sode of Omonjiya was bought by the hatamoto Tsuchiyama Sojiro for the large sum of 1,200 ryo in 1784.

Tsuchyama Sojiro was originally a vassal of the shogun, but became a hatamoto and served as head accountant under Tanuma Okitsugu. He was a highly accomplished figure in the Tanuma faction. However, following Tanuma’s downfall, embezzlement was discovered and he went on the run. Dare Sode’s whereabouts have since been unknown. Although she was famous during her glamorous days in Yoshiwara and was offered a large sum of money, she had an unfortunate life.