Did indebted families commonly sell daughters into prostitution in Japan?

Upvote:-1

Considering that it is reputed to still occur in rural South-East Asia, I see no reason that it wouldn't have occurred, occasionally at least, in other times and places. This is after all what is meant by white slavery.

However, if you are considering a plot line suggesting that this practice was wide-spread, you will likely get hard push-back from various quarters unless you have hard primary evidence of it's occurrence. That may be hard to come by in the English histories.

Upvote:6

Yes, it was a common practice to sell daughters [and sometimes, wives]. It was widely practiced at least until the mid of Showa period (1950s) so I think it is safe to make it as a major plot line in 1930s-1940s Japan.

In the Edo period (1603-1868) the practice was extremely rampant both in urban and rural areas, and it was considered normal as it was the zeitgeist of the time. However, during the Bakumatsu (opening of Japan) in the early 19th century, Western influence was getting stronger, and there are protests to this practice.

Most protests were elite-driven (from the Westerners and the Western-educated Japanese) though, and even the government legislated Ordinance no. 44 in 1900, daughters [and wives] are still being sold. Especially families in rural areas. There were people that was called Karayuki-san (which means, Ms-Gone-to-China). They were being sold to Asia prostitution traffic - mostly went to China, hence the name.

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