I woke up this morning with a fleeting thought of my days in Yokosuka are wondered, "Did the House of Running Water exist?" and if so, was that its real name? Here is what I found:
If you're referring to the "AKA-SEN" Japanese "Red Light District" where brothels openly existed, they were prohibited after the change in Japanese law coincident with the end of the "Occupation" around 1953. Of course such illegal establishments continue to exist as they do all over the world. The Japanese entrepreneur has proved especially adept at circumventing the law to provide such entertainment in a variety of forms. The "TURKO" steam bath/massage parlors of the past became the "Soap Lands" of the present after the Turkish government complained about the use of the country's name. A few years back an amusing enterprise called the "NO PAN KISA" or "NO PANTS COFFEE SHOP" (No it wasn't the men who wore no pants) was introduced briefly (no pun intended) till the Japanese Police shut them down. The famous "YOSHIWARA" of TOKYO (EDO) was well known during the time of the Shoguns and was the authorized location where courtesans carried on liaisons with their samurai and well heeled merchant customers. These sort of businesses along with the snacks, bars, cabarets etc are known as the Fuzoku or Mizu Shobai literally the "Water Trade". Every town in Japan will have some located in a NEON GAI Neon Light Town. Port cities have always had them to cater to the sailors both civilian and Navy. The American term "Okidoki" is a derivative of the Japanese "Honkei Dori" which was a road in Yokohama where sailors could go for fun back in the 19th century hence it was okidoki or OK. In Yokosuka there was an establishment called "Tanpopo's" but that's a subject for that other Forum.
House of Running Water
The Divine Wind Vault http://divinewindvault.blogspot.com (C)2006-10
