The majority of this historical fiction novel is about Ichiro, a girl from a fishing island sold into prostitution by her family as they can’t afford to keep her. Sadly, this seems to be the case for many at this time in the countryside. Once in the brothel, she’s given lessons in sex and seduction so she can earn enough to clear “her” debt - the payment made to her family for her. This world is vividly evoked as well as a translation which brings out Ichiro’s accent.

The final part of the novel concerns the strike. It happens out of the blue with zero preamble. There’s also little tension as the brothel owners just fold and let them all leave. Whilst a ‘happy’ ending in that our heroine escapes prostitution, it’s not very satisfying. Given that the ending is therefore somewhat of an anticlimax, I’ve marked this one down a star.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rating: 4.5 stars
A Woman Of Pleasure
Written by: Kiyoko Murata
Translated by: Juliet Winters Carpenter

A Woman of Pleasure is a historical fiction based on events from the Meiji-era in Japan, the novel begins in 1902 when the main character, Aoi Ichi was sold to one of the highest-ranking brothels at the age of fifteen. Girls sold into prostitution came from rural provinces and were the children of peasants, the girls became leverages for their parents to take loans from the brothel owners in which their daughters had to repay through prostitution. This was a highly unjust system as these women lost their autonomy as they became mere cash cows for their parents and brothel owners.
They ranked these girls and women on very discriminatory terms concerning their genitalia; these ranged from superior, exceptional, excellent, good, mediocre, and inferior. They were also taught techniques to be used to guide their clients as they wished rather than losing total control of the situation.
Special girls such as Aoi Ichi were mentored under an oiran- the highest-ranking courtesan whose earnings covered the expenses of those under her wing. An oiran was a woman whose body from birth and their privates were superior or exceptional, through the explicit and cruel ranking system not many women could become an oiran.
Furthermore, education was an important asset to most prostitutes and as their schedules allowed them, attended the Female Industrial School where they could learn morality, reading, calligraphy, composition, ikebana, and sewing. Ichi was assigned to the peach blossom class and learned calligraphy and composition. “Education could equip a prostitute to embark on a new life." Education was so powerful as it allowed these illiterate women to grasp a basic understanding of the literary world and their reality where they were often required to write letters to their clients and learned numbers to ensure they were not being cheated by the brothel owners.
Ichi’s teacher, Tetsuko, a retired prostitute whose aim was to educate the young girls to one day learn greater things, experienced heartache as she realized Ichi was forced to sell herself although she longed to go home.
These events alongside others such as Murasaki, an oiran’s pregnancy, we learn the harsh realities of lower-ranked prostitutes who were forced to have abortions while higher-ranked ones carried the baby full term and the child was sent into the foster-care system after birth, this is so as the brothel owners did not want to risk damage to their goods; a woman’s body.
It was inspiring to read about the prostitutes’ strike against the brothel owners for the unfair treatment they all experienced. Therefore, I rated this novel 4.5 stars because of the exceptional critique of the lives of these women and the progression of Ichi’s maturity.
Some themes that occurred throughout the novel were: Poverty, Class, Education and knowledge, Sisterhood, Beauty, Childhood Innocence, and Loss of Innocence.

“Even though our bodies are sinking now beneath the waves, let’s keep our spirits aiming high.”
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Woman of Pleasure
by Kiyoko Murata

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Multicultural Interest

I love books like this, that give an insight into different cultures, historical actions and the effects on individual people.

I enjoyed reading it from a more personal level, seeing Ichi's thoughts, her way of rationlising and making sense of the world she's been dropped in. It helped me understand her actions. This kind of writing always holds my interest more, has me thinking “what would I have done?”
Prostitution is often known as the oldest profession and of course its always with us in some form, whether openly as in this novel or hidden from sight – supposedly- as illegal....
Its was interesting to see how the brothels worked, how they varied and how the more exclusive ones valued education. Its not something that springs to mind, but was really interesting to read that the girls were taught how to read and write, how to calculate, even if it was for practical reasons rather than for their own benefit.
I did feel sorry for Ichi and the girls like her ( and no doubt boys too) , caught up in a world where they have no choice about what they do. Sadly there are still too many children caught up in some form of prostitution/slavery worldwide even today.

Stars: Four, a story that felt very real, based upon historical reality.

ARC supplied by netgalley and publishers

I really enjoyed this book, though enjoyed is probably not the right word because of the subject matter. Ichi is such a fascinating character and it was good to learn the history of the brothel areas in Japan.

That this is told through the eyes of several women in different mediums was so interesting and made me wonder what I would do in their situations. I also learned a lot, such as having no idea that the debts could be extended by the fathers even though it clearly makes sense.

I thought the end came round quite quickly and they left more unopposed than I thought they would have been able to, but I was happy to see Ichi find some peace even though the end is somewhat unresolved.

This is a historical novel about the courtesans whose strike brought down a red-light district, and a testament to the bonds between women and the power of owning one's language and freedom.

This was a very good read. Although fictional, it gives an insight into the lives of courtesans with education beyond the art of seduction, and their strength in realising their value as women. It was refreshing, how raw and unblemished the characters' stories were, and situations they faced dealing with routine behind the mysticism of the courtesan world.

A young girl from a remote Japanese island is sold into prostitution by her family. In the brothel, she learns how to pleasure clients. At school, she learns how to write and count to keep track of her debt. Based on real-life events in Meiji-era Japan, it's a moving and challenging book.

This is a really fascinating book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Learnt a lot about a culture that I don't know tons about too.

So well written a fascinating portrait of these women from long ago who were used for pleasure.This is historical fiction at it best.I was swept into the world of these women their lives their friendship.an excellent read.#netgalley #awomanof pleasure.

Well written and emotional, this book explores the importance of female friendships and body autonomy. I really enjoyed the writing style, it was easy to get swept away into this uncomfortable, intense and emotional world that was the everyday life for so many women.

Really great Japanese fiction from along ago. I was fascinated by the process the prostitutes went through as a part of a perverse and saddening induction of sorts. I loved the characters and the plot and the shift towards a political angle towards the end was really interesting too.

The story is well written. It feels so real, like I see the situation in front of my eyes.

Actually, this book is not my type of read. But I try to get out from my comfort writing, that's why I tried to read this book.

Turns out, it's not that bad. Even at first, I felt uncomfortable with the vulgarity by the description of sex workers, then I can follow the story about how Aoi Ichi try to runaway from the brothel.

This is the kind of historical fiction I love. A window into a time, place and part of history that I know nothing about. The writing and translation made the main character so vivid. Highly recommend.