Yoshiwara Kwai-rok-ki. (Chronology of fire disasters in the Yoshiwara.)

In the 12th month of the 7th year of Kwan-ei (January 1631) fire broke out at Hatchōbori and burnt out Negichō, Hasegawa-chō, and Tomizawa-chō.

On the 14th day of the 12th month of the second year of Shōhō (30th January, 1646), after a lapse of 16 years, fire broke out at Owari-chō, and the Yoshiwara was burnt. The progress of the flames was checked at Hasegawa-chō, at Ōmon-dori. This fire was known as the “Sakueymon kwaji.”

In the 9th month of the 3rd year of Sho-ō (October 1654), after the lapse of 19 years, fire broke out at Kirigashi and the Moto Yoshiwara was burnt.

On the 18th day of the 1st month of the 3rd year of Meireki (2nd March, 1857), after the lapse of 13 years (something seems to be wrong in this calculation?) fire broke out in the Hommyō-ji temple, Maruyama, Hongo, and the greater portion of Yedo, including the Moto Yoshiwara, was burnt.

The following are the disasters which have occurred since the removal of the Yoshiwara to the present site:—

A Fire in the Yoshiwara.

On the 7th day of the 12th month of the 4th year of Empō (10th January, 1677), after an interval of twenty years, fire broke out in a bath-house, kept by a man named Ichibei, at Kyō-machi-gashi, and the Yoshiwara was burnt.

On the 27th day of the 11th month of the 5th year of Empō (21st December, 1677) fire broke out in the house of Hanaya Ichibei, Yedo-chō ni-chō-me, and part of the street where the fire originated was burnt. Rain was falling heavily at the time.

In the 4th month of the 5th year of Meiwa (May 1768) fire broke out in the brothel at Yedo-chō kept by Yotsumeya Zentarō, and the Yoshiwara was burnt down after an interval of ninety-two years.

On the 23rd day of the 4th month of the 8th year of Meiwa, (5th June, 1771) fire broke out in the house of Umeya Ihei and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of four years.

On the 29th day of the 2nd month of the 9th year of Meiwa (1st April, 1772) fire broke out in the Daitan-ji temple, Gyonin-zaka, Meguro, and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of two years.

On the 30th day of the 9th month of the 1st year of Temmei (15th November, 1781) fire broke out in the houses of Aburaya Yasubei, Fushimi-chō, and Yedo-chō ni-chō-me of the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of ten years. One account says that this fire originated in the Kadaya, Fushimi-chō, and that eleven houses in Yedo-chō ni-chō-me, ten houses Naka-no-chō, and ten houses at Fushimi-chō were burnt.

On the 16th day of the 4th month of the 4th year of Temmei (3rd June, 1784) fire broke out in the house of Maruebi-ya, and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of four years.

On the 9th day of the 11th month of the 7th year of Temmei (18th December, 1787) fire broke out in the tea-house kept by Gorobei, Sumichō, and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of four years.

On the 2nd day of the 4th month of the 6th year of Kwansei (1st May, 1794) fire broke out either in the brothel known as “Choji-ya” or in the house of Juzo (they stood close together) and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of eight years. Tamachi (in Asakusa) was also burnt by this fire, sparks carried by the wind having ignited the residences there.

On the 23rd day of the 2nd month of the 12th year of Kwansei (18th March, 1800) fire broke out in the house of a farmer named Tsunasa Jinyemon, of Ryūsenji-mura, Shitaya district, and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of seven years.

On the 21st day of the 11th month of the 9th year of Bunkwa (24th December, 1812) fire broke out in the compound of sheds belonging to Zenshichi (chief of beggars), and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of thirteen years. This fire spread as far as Yama-no-shiku, and Tamachi (ni-chō-me), Asakusa.

On the 3rd day of the 5th month of the 13th year of Bunkwa (29th May, 1816) fire broke out in an unoccupied house owned by Shin-ebi-ya Kichisuké, (a brothel-keeper) at Kyō-machi it-chō-me, and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of five years. The office of Sahei (a nanushi) at Yedo-chō ni-chō-me escaped the general holocaust. This conflagration spread as far as Ryūsenji-machi, Asakusa.

On the 26th day of the 1st month of the 6th year of Tempō (23rd February, 1835) fire broke out in the brothel kept by Matsugoro, Sumichō, and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of twelve years.

On the 19th day of the 10th month of the 8th year of Tempō (16th November 1837) fire broke out in the house of Gentaro (who was the father and guardian of the proprietress of a small brothel at Yedo-chō ni-chō-me) and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of three years. The office of nanushi Nizayemon, at Yedo-chō it-chō-me, and the small houses in the back alleys, were not destroyed.

On the 5th day of the 12th month of the 2nd year of Kōkwa (2nd January, 1846) fire broke out in a brothel kept by Kawatsuya Tetsugoro, at Kyō-machi ni-chō-me, and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of nine years. The office of Nanushi Sahei at Yedo-chō, ni-chō-me, that of nanushi Niyemon at Yedo-chō it-chō-me, and that of nanushi Rokuroyemon at Kyō-machi it-chō-me, however, were not destroyed.

On the 2nd day of the 10th month of the 2nd year of Ansei (11th November, 1855) a destructive earthquake occurred, and all the houses in the Yoshiwara were demolished by shaking or burning after an interval of eleven years. Numerous lives were lost.

On the 29th day of the 9th month of the 1st year of Manen (12th November, 1860) fire broke out in the house of Kinoji-ya Tetsujirō (at the kashi in Yedo-chō ni-chō-me) and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of six years. The house of nanushi Jinshiro, at Kyō-machi, it-chō-me, was saved.

On the 14th day of the 11th month of the 2nd year of Bunkyū (3rd January, 1863) fire broke out in the house of Shimidzu-ya Seisuké (Kyō-machi, it-chō-me) and the Yoshiwara was burnt after an interval of three years. The fire spread to Gojikken-machi. The houses of nanushi Jinshiro and of Kaneko Hambei (at Kyō-machi it-chō-me) were saved.

On the 26th day of the 1st month of the 1st year of Genji (5th March, 1864), after an interval of three years, fire broke out in the store-house of a brothel (Ōguchi-ya Bunzayemon) of Yedo-chō it-chō-me, and all the houses in that street were burnt. The brothels on the creek-side of Ageya-chō were saved, and also some houses in Kyōmachi it-chō-me. On the 23rd day of the 9th month of the same year (23rd October, 1864) fire broke out in a tobacconist’s shop in Yedo-chō it-chō-me, and six houses were destroyed.

On the 11th day of the 11th month of the 2nd year of Kei-ō (17th December, 1866) after a lapse of three years, fire broke out in a small brothel named Ō-Masu-ya (in Yedo-chō it-chō-me) and a portion of the Yoshiwara was burnt.

On the 28th day of the 5th month of the 4th year of Meiji (28th May, 1871) fire broke out in a paper-dealer’s store, named Sanya Matsugoro, (in Kita Fushimi-chō) and the greater part of the Yoshiwara was burnt. The houses along the creek at Yedo-chō it-chō-me, Ageya-chō, and Kyōmachi it-chō-me were saved, as was also the “Kado-ebi.”

On the 11th day of the 11th month of the 6th year of Meiji (11th November, 1873) fire broke out in the house occupied by Kobayashi-ya Rui, No. 25 Kyō-machi ni-chō-me, and this street, and Yedo-chō ni-chō-me, were completely demolished. In the vicinity of the Ō-mon two tea-houses (the “Ōmori-ya” and “Yagata-ya”) only were saved. Some houses in Tamachi ni-chō-me, Yama-no-shiku, and Shōden Yokochō, were burnt in consequence of being set on fire by flying sparks.

On the 12th day of the 12th month of the 8th year of Meiji, at noon (12th December, 1875) fire broke out in the kitchen of the house of Nakamura Chōbei (Sano Tsuchi-ya) No. 25, Yedo-chō, it-chō-me, and in consequence Yedo-chō, it-chō-me and ni-chō-me, Sumichō, Ageya-machi, and Kyō-machi it-chō-me and ni-chō-me were burnt. Besides these the fire destroyed some houses in other parts of the Yoshiwara.

On the 2nd day of the 1st month of the 11th year of Meiji (2nd January, 1878) after an interval of four years, fire broke out in the house of Nakamura Chōbei (Iseroku) Yedo-chō it-chō-me, but it was extinguished after consuming the building in which it originated. The cause of fire was kerosene oil.

On the 23rd day of the 1st month of the 24th year of Meiji (23rd January, 1891), after an interval of seventeen years, fire broke out in the house of Kobayashi Kyūtarō (“Kobayashi-rō”) No. 19, Kyōmachi ni-chō-me, and at Sumi-chō; forty-six houses were completely, and five partially, burnt. At Kyōmachi ni-chō-me thirteen houses were completely, and two partially, burnt. At Yedo-chō ni-chō-me two houses were completely, and nine partially, destroyed.

On the 4th day of the 4th month of the 26th year of Meiji (13th April, 1893) at 7.30 p.m. fire broke out in the third story of Irita Yoshitarō (“Baiman-rō”) No. 31, Ageya-chō, and some forty-five houses were completely, and nine partially, burnt at Ageya-chō, Yedo-chō it-chō-me, and Kyōmachi it-chō-me.

The latest destructive conflagration in the Yoshiwara occurred at 4.30 a.m. on March 15th, 1896. It was started at the rear of the tea-houses Shin Kirihan and Kanetama-ya (which were situated on the border of Yedo-chō ni-chō-me and Sumi-chō) and quickly spread to Yedo-chō ni-chō-me, Naka-no-chō, Sumi-chō, and even to the outside of the Ō-mon. Altogether 139 houses were destroyed. In this fire a yūjo named Koiginu, 24 years of age, belonging to the “Kawachi-rō” (Sumi-chō) was burnt to death, her way of escape having been cut off by smoke.

A man-servant of the “Tanaka-rō” was also asphyxiated to death on this occasion.