Drawings of Oiran - The flower of the red-light district.

An Oiran was the top class courtesan of the Yoshiwara district during the Edo period. There is a saying that the etymology of "oiran" comes from the rusty dialect of men and servants when they would say, "Oira no Neesan (She is my lady)". An Oiran was not only beautiful; she also had to be talented in several arts. The gorgeous and delicate expressions and the elegant movements would take away your breath! Nowadays, it is common to find illustrations that portray them in a more sexy kimono, with their shoulders exposed, which is not exactly historically accurate... but we love them anyway!

Today we are featuring illustrations of Oiran. Please enjoy!