The Edo period was a historical era in Japan that lasted for about 260 years, from 1603 to 1868, during which the Tokugawa shogunate ruled Japan. The center of politics was Edo, which corresponds to modern-day Tokyo. As wars became relatively rare, society stabilized, and cities and commerce developed significantly. In particular, a diverse commoner culture flourished around cities like Edo, Osaka, and Kyoto. In the society of that time, there were distinctions based on status, such as samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Samurai, as the ruling class, were allowed to carry swords; farmers were primarily engaged in agriculture; and artisans made goods. Although merchants were ranked low in status, some accumulated great wealth along with the development of commerce. People mainly wore kimonos, and houses were often built of wood. They lived in rooms with tatami mats and used sliding doors made of paper or wood. Since there were no modern electric lights at night, lamps or candles were used. Food centered on rice, miso soup, fish, vegetables, and pickles, while foods like soba, sushi, and tempura also gained popularity in the cities. Because Edo was a populous and commercially active city, markets, shops, restaurants, teahouses, inns, and bathhouses were everywhere. People enjoyed Kabuki, Bunraku, Sumo, and Ukiyo-e, and these popular cultures became representative of the Edo period. Entertainment Culture and the Pleasure Quarters With the development of cities in the Edo period, various entertainment cultures were also formed. In particular, the government designated and managed specific areas as entertainment districts, the most representative of which was Yoshiwara in Edo. Yoshiwara was a famous pleasure quarter at the time, and it was not just a sexual space but also a cultural entertainment space where restaurants, teahouses, performances, and fashion all came together. People of various statuses and classes frequented Yoshiwara, and the status and lives of the women who worked there were very complex. Contrary to the glamorous appearance, many women were in positions where it was difficult to choose their own lives freely, and there were cases where it was difficult to quit work due to issues such as contracts and debts. Oiran Oiran is the title given to the highest-ranking courtesans in the pleasure quarters of the Edo period. Oiran were not famous for their looks alone; they were educated to possess various refinements and talents, including dance, music, art, literature, and etiquette. Therefore, there were oiran who possessed considerable fame at the time. Oiran wore very colorful kimonos and accessories and were also famous for using unique hairstyles and multiple hairpins. Furthermore, they received guests with much more complex etiquette and ceremonies than ordinary courtesans. In particular, meeting an oiran was not a simple matter of paying money and meeting them immediately. For higher-ranking oiran, various procedures and formalities were required for a meeting with a guest, and this process itself was an important part of the entertainment culture of Yoshiwara. Geisha are often mentioned alongside oiran as similar beings, but the two are not the same profession. Geisha were primarily artists who provided entertainment such as music, dance, conversation, and hospitality, while oiran belonged to the courtesan class of the pleasure quarters. Surviving the Edo Period If a modern person were to suddenly drop into the Edo period, the biggest problem would be their familiarity with a modern lifestyle. Since there is no electricity, running water, modern hospitals and medicine, cars, or the internet, they could face great difficulties starting from basic living. Social restrictions based on status and gender were also strong, and there would have been eyes that viewed the behavior of a stranger as strange. Therefore, to survive in the Edo period, it is important to understand the status system and etiquette of the time and to become familiar with kimonos and the currency, meals, and transportation methods of the era. Additionally, since there were many wooden buildings, fire was a great danger, and during travel, one had to know the roads and lodging facilities in advance. The Edo period can be seen not simply as 'the era when samurai lived,' but as an era where the shogunate system was maintained politically while cities and commerce grew, and commoner culture and entertainment culture developed together.