A Haiku poet once described the most admired courtesan that ever graced the entertainment halls of Kyoto in this fashion:
Lo, our flowery capital
Will never bloom again
If death takes Yoshino away.
Yoshino had indeed earned the repitation fo being an dmirable woman because she was gentle and courteous and big of heart. No one could point the finger of scorn at her or complain that she was wanting in conduct or behavior. She was a good woman, liked by all who knew her.
Yonosuke had heared of her--her goodness, her refinement. And then one day he saw her on th street with his own eyes, and he felt great torment. This wasn't a case of casual infautation iwth a common harlot or a woman of easy virtue. She was first-class hostess, a woman of quality presiding in giddily high circles. It saddened Yonosuke to think that with all his newly acquired wealth she was inaccesible to him. He fell actually in love for the first time in his life.
Frustration begets humility, and Yonosuke started to earn money with his own hands-- just fifty-three me, the price of admission to her presence for one brief hour of glorious entertainment. It was to be an expression of sincerity, unadulterated by an sordid urge. Daily he worked at the anvil o fa smith in Lord Kintsuna's studio. Everyday he forged one smal knife blade, earning one me for his labor. In fifty-three days he had amassed the needed fifty-three me.
And every day thereafter he waite for a chance t be admitted to Yoshino's table. But the keeper of the teahouse in the Shimabara district would not let him see her. She was barred to anyone unknown to the keeper as a man of wealth, position, and probity. Yonosuke refused to reveal his true identity, and those who had heard of his past misdeeds shunned him. His sincerity proved to be of no avail.
So then one night when the festival of the forge came around, he went secretly to the same establishment t pour out his woes to a woman attendant. "I'm mortified," he told her.
"I can well understand it," the woman said sympathetically. "I shall let Yoshino-sama know secretly anyhow that you are here."
When Yoshino heard about Yonosuke's plight and lament, she said without hesitation: "Of course he can see me if he wants to. Bring him into my room, please."
Unable to believe hi ears, Yonosuke crept through the dark hallway into her dazzling presence. He felt humble and ashamed.
"But at least I am sincere," he said pensively. "I have come to you with all my love in my heart, knowing you will reject me."
Yohino was greatly surprised and excited. No one had ever spoken to her of sincere love. "Tell me more about it," she invited.
Yonosuke made a clean breast of everything. "That is all," he concluded. "I must thank you for letting me come here to see you. Now I am satisfied. I shall always carry the thought of your generosity in my heart." He rose to go.
"Wait! Yoshino cried, seizing his sleeve. "Don't go yet." But the secret could not be kept. When the keeper of the establishment on the following morning heard what Yoshino had done on her own initiative, he complained sternly and bitterly.
Yoshino protested: "But I have nt done anything that would run the reputation of this house or anyone else here. I have nothing to hide. You may not know the man who came to see me because he came as a poor and humble man, without displaying the privilege of wealth. He is Yonosuke-sama. He impressed me greatly with his simple, unadorned sincerity."
Nevertheless it seemed as if Yoshino had committed an indiscretion that could not be excused.
"It is against the rules of the house," the master insisted.
While her career thus hung in the balance, Yonosuke himself dropped in, now through the front door. When the mater told him pointblank that he would not tolerate such clandestine defiance of rules and that in any event Yoshino's future wsa as good as ruined thereby, Yonosuke said: "Ver well, I shall hold myself responsible for her conduct. She has done no more than what a generous-hearted courtesan would do. I will never let her suffer for it. In fact... I will pay ransom to secure her release from your contract. As of today she shall be a free woman."
And with Yoshino's glad consent he paid the ransom and took her home as his wife.
Pride and prejudice hurt the establishment, and sicnerity was richly rewarded. For Yoshino proved herself to be a model wife. Wise and gentle in her ways and speech, she quickly familiarized herself wwith the affairs of her new environment and adapted herself to its manners and peculiarities without a trace of condescension. She joined the Buddhist church to prepare herelf for the future world, the same as Yonosuke. She gave up moking her long-stemmed pipe when Yonosuke confessed aversion for the ill-smelling weed. Yonosuke was pleased in every respect.
But his family and clan of relative came forth to voice objections. Whatever she ight be now, Yoshino was once a courtesan, a dishonroable profession in their eyes. She culd not be entered in the family registry. "Get rid of her," they demanded of Yonosuke.
Yoshino was heartbroken. Yonosuke stood resolutely by her, but the clan council refused to budge too. Relations became strained all around. Finally, after discussing the matter sorrowfully with Yonosuke, Yoshino asked for separation.
"I shall be content to be your mistress," she said.
"Please let me stay in a separate house for servants, and you can come to see me whenever you like."
"That won't do at all," Yonosuke replied. "I will not consent to any such arrangement."
"Then I shall make a final appeal to your clan council. I shall try to persuade your relatives to change their attitude towards us."
"How can you convince them when even Buddhist and Shinto priests have tried in vain to intercede for us?"
"Well then," Yoshino was persistent, "I have a scheme. Please write an invitation to all of your relatives. Tell them you are sending me away tomorrow, so please come to renew the former pleasant relationship. It is to be a feast of rconciliation, between yourself and them. The cherries in the garden are just about to bloom. Tell them to bring along their servants too and enjoy the day together here-- the whole clan. And leave the rest to me."
"Whatever you wish," Yonosuke agreed pleasantly enough, and the letter were duly dispatched by messenger.
The clan members came, all of them--children, servants and all- in palanquin after palanquin, for they bore no ill will toward Yonosuke. There was feasting and drinking in the great family hall overlooking the garden and in the pavilions overlooking hillocks, ponds, and flower beds.
At the heght of the festivities Yoshino went before the revelers and bowed low with both hands on the mat. She wore a pale blue robe, a red apron denoting the status ofa servant, and a kerchief on her head. Sh addressed the older members of the clan: "My name is Yoshino, adn I was once a courtsan on Misuji-machi. I feel I am unworthy to appear before this family gathering. Today, however, I am to be sent away from this household as an unwanted wife. I should like, if you will let me, to sesrve and entertain you as my last act here."
Thereupon she began to sing a song of olden times. Next she entertained the guests by playing a haunting muical piece on the koto. Then she brewed ceremonial tea, serving it to the guests in a charming, well-bred way. And she recited poems. She arranged flowers in trays to brighten up the hall.
She did all these things serenely in a way tht suggested they were not something to be enjoyed by men at first-class teahouses. She showed that they were accomplishments that any wife, in any home, might freely and profitably exercise for the enjoyment of her family.
After that she mixed easily with the guests as a hostess should, looking after the childrens disheveled hair, making up a twosome for the game of go, going back and forth from the kitchen for more drinks and delicacies. She looked after the guests' every need, far into the nihgt. nd the guests unconcsciously accepted her as the hostess herself. They forgot that the time to leave was long past due.
In the small hours of the morning the many clan members finally left for their homes. The womenfolk said: "We must never let Yonosuke get rid of such a fine wife. Even we women have never felt so pleasant as in her company. No need to feel ashamed with a ride so gentle and wise and capable." Then they told the menfolk: "Plese forgive her for her past and let her become Yonosuke's legitimate wife."
The enfold nooded their heads vigorously in affirmationation. "She is a fine and loveable woman," they agreed emphatically. "Who said they must part?"