Yonosuke, a lifelong libertine, has pursued sexual delight from the start. After his father disowned him at eighteen, a turbulent sixteen‑year span of adventure and change followed. When he turned thirty‑four, the dying father reconciled with his son and left him a vast fortune.
At fifty‑seven, one of Yonosuke"s tailors, Juzo, visited him just before heading to Edo. Juzo had foolishly wagered with a wealthy trader that he could seduce Komurasaki, Edo"s most celebrated courtesan, on their first encounter. Winning would earn him a villa; losing would cost him his masculinity. Yonosuke was shocked, knowing how coveted the top courtesans were. The elite tayu were not only stunning but also highly educated—poetry, calligraphy, painting, tea ceremony, and other arts. They would only sleep with a patron on the third night; the first two were reserved for conversation and formalities. Ordinary men, whom they regarded as "untouchable," revered them with admiration.
Angry, Yonosuke escorted Juzo to Edo and arranged a meeting with Komurasaki. At the tea house, nervousness turned Juzo into a laughing stock; he soon became inebriated and accidentally spilled wine on the courtesan"s kimono. Unfazed, she left and returned in a fresh, identical garment.
