Elizabeth Lublin

Elizabeth Lublin, an Associate Professor of Japanese history, delves into the fascinating world of sex work in Edo Japan. She discusses the rise of licensed brothels and the social dynamics of male sex workers and geishas. Elizabeth reveals the challenges faced by sex workers, including indenture and poverty, and highlights the strict hierarchies within the profession. The conversation also explores the impact of Western influence and moral shifts on prostitution, as well as the grim realities beneath the romanticized imagery of the floating world.