(Voice actor) Ms.Marilyn Lo

Do you know the woman depicted on the 5000 yen bill? Her name is Ichiyo Higuchi. She was a pioneer of Japanese women writers. Ichiyo Higuchi was born in the Meiji era. In those days, it was considered uneccesary to educate women since they would only get married. But her father had a different idea. He encouraged her learning by such ways as encouraging her to study Waka (Japanese poems). But her father left huge debts when he passed away. The family became poor in order to repay his debts. The Higuchi family had no wealth except for Ichiyo’s gift of poetry and writing. Paid, professional writers were gradually becoming established among Japanese novelists at the time. Ichiyo Higuchi decided to become a professional writer. Soon her works became acknowledged by some people. Among them was an author, Tosui Nakarai. He praised Ichiyo Higuchi’s works and spared no effort in providing her assistance. Ichiyo’s talent blossomed under Tosui’s guidance. There was one problem. While they were mentor and protege, they were also man and woman. Before long, Ichiyo fell in love with Tosui. Although it is unthinkable now, men and women dating without the intention of marriage was frowned upon by society back then. But their relationship soon became public. And Tosui, rather than marrying Ichiyo, stopped seeing her. Thus, Ichiyo’s romance ended. Pestered by debt collectors, Ichiyo Higuchi moved to Ryusen of the Taito ward in Tokyo from her old home in 1893. The neighborhood was in the vicinity of Yoshiwara, a red-light district. Her neighbors were the Yoshiwara workers and former workers. Yoshiwara was a place of glamorous Oirans (courtisanes) and prostitutes, but most of these women were brought there, having been sold by their family to pay off debts. And once they were old no one gave them the time of day. In the chaos of such glory alongside much sadness and pain, Ichiyo started a new life. She interacted with people who concurrently held light and darkness, good and evil, joy and sorrow. Ichiyo herself did not have a very happy life. Her love also was shattered. But Ichiyo’s talent flourished at once from her encounter with the people of Ryusen.