Asai Ryoi, Musashi Abumi, 1661, book

Asai Ryoi, Musashi Abumi, 1661, book Asai Ryoi’s depiction of the Great Meireki Fire is rather rare and precious information as it adheres to the actual even as close to the actual occurrence as possible. Especially reading about how the people reacted and tried to stay alive really brings up the reality very close to how people will react to fire incidents in the current time. While the bantering between prisoners trying to escape fire vs guards trying to stop prisoners from escaping continues, it is easy to imagine the chaos the people in the city as this fast and massive fire swept up the city. Especially if Yoshiwara only had one entrance and often times Yujo and Oiran’s had to wear thick kimono for fashion, their escape would have been rather close to impossible.