OIRAN

Forbidden Love with a Samurai

A powerful sword-fighting drama set in the dazzling world of Edo’s pleasure quarters, portraying a fierce and fleeting love between a courtesan and two rival samurai.

This show is a non-verbal sword-fighting performance without dialogue. It is an original show, created by the samurai performers “KATANAYA ICHI.”

About OIRAN

Oiran were high-ranking courtesans in Edo-period Japan who not only offered artistic entertainment but also engaged in romantic and intimate relationships with select clients. They were admired for their beauty, intelligence, and cultural refinement, and the most prestigious oiran had the rare privilege of choosing their patrons, becoming fashion leaders and cultural icons.

Most oiran were sold into the pleasure quarters as children and had no freedom to leave. They underwent years of training and discipline before becoming courtesans. While their lives were shaped by coercion and limited choices, those who rose to the top could exercise some degree of autonomy, including the right to refuse certain clients.

OIRAN Parades

The Oiran Parade was a formal and spectacular procession in Edo-period Japan, where high-ranking courtesans known as oiran paraded through the pleasure quarters to meet their clients. This event was called oiran dochu. The oiran wore elaborate kimono and ornate hairstyles, accompanied by attendants and young girls called kamuro. The procession was a public display of the oiran’s status, beauty, and cultural sophistication, drawing the attention of many spectators. It was more than just a way to travel—it was a performance that showcased the elegance, refinement, and artistry of the oiran.

Historical Background

In 1603, Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan, bringing an end to the long and turbulent Sengoku (Warring States) period. This marked the beginning of the Edo period—a time of peace without war. However, society became strictly divided by class and status. Social roles such as samurai, farmers, artisans, and merchants were hereditary, and people were not free to change the class into which they were born.

With the end of warfare, many samurai found themselves without a clear role. The Tokugawa shogunate required their loyalty, expecting samurai to serve as moral examples for the public. Those who adapted became high-ranking retainers, while those who did not became ronin—masterless and jobless. It was a time when the values and identity of the samurai were undergoing great change.

During this era, the pleasure quarters flourished as centers of culture and the arts. Oiran, the high-ranking courtesans who endured years of rigorous training, were far more than providers of physical intimacy—they were admired for their refinement, dignity, and education. Although their freedom was limited, top-ranking oiran held an exceptional status and were allowed a certain degree of autonomy.

Story

A fleeting yet fierce love, blooming in the shadows of Edo.

Set in the Edo period—
Yū, a courtesan cloaked in elegance, sorrow, and quiet resolve.
Two men cross blades over her:
One who seeks to possess her, and one who seeks to protect her.

Love and pride collide.
Fate and conviction intertwine.
Bearing it all, Yū chooses her own path forward.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s iconic line, “To be, or not to be,”
this poetic and powerful swordplay performance asks:
What does it truly mean to live?

Honor or love—
On a stage where blades flash and fates unfold,
witness her take that one fateful step.（15 mins）