Inside Imperial Japan's Brothels

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

History Hit

Society, History, Education, Sex, Scandal

4.8 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 7 October 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

After the first licensed brothel opened in the 17th century, how was sex work thought of in Japan throughout the following centuries?

From the brothels in the pleasure quarters, to the rise and popularity of male sex workers and where geishas fit into the picture, Kate is joined by Elizabeth Lublin to explore this world.

This episode was edited by Tim Arstall and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, betwixters. If you are in a public place or if you're listening to this podcast in your earphones or if you're around sensitive pets, you might want to turn the volume down for the next 30 seconds or so. Ready? Okay. Oh my God! We did it! We did it! We actually did it! We won! We won listeners choice awards in the British podcast awards. Oh my God,
0:24.2	you absolute maniacs. We did it. Oh, thank you so, so, so much to everybody who voted.
0:35.0	This isn't like other kinds of awards where people say,
0:41.5	thank you for listening and they don't really mean it. We really, really mean it because if you hadn't voted, this wouldn't have happened. Oh, you absolute legends. Thank you.
0:46.8	And thank you so much to everyone who works on Betwixt as well, because it isn't just me.
0:50.8	I have an amazing team behind me. And if it wasn't for them, it's just a mad northern woman talking to herself into a microphone that's probably not turned on it anyway.
0:58.4	So from the bottom of my heart and from the team's heart, thank you so much. This is a huge
1:04.4	honour and we are all absolutely thrilled.
1:09.7	Hi, I'm Sandy Toxwig. Now, I don't know, you might know me from the tele or the radio, or indeed the wet fish counter at our local supermarket.
1:16.0	But did you know that I've written books too, and my most recent novel is called Friends of Dorothy.
1:21.2	It's a touching and funny story about family, and honestly the unexpected.
1:25.6	I mean, I can't promote it. People have said lots of lovely
1:28.2	things about it. It was in the bestseller chart for a few weeks in hardback, so good news is it's now out in paperback.
1:34.0	Bit cheaper, but with all the same words. Friends of Dorothy by me, Sandy Toxwig, out now in paperback.
1:40.3	They did it again. Flower instead of flowers on my birthday. And 95 minutes late, but it's hard to leave when you've shared so much. Your postcode, your gluten intolerance. Then I saw it. 25% off your first Akado shop, plus free delivery. And I just knew I'd found the online supermarket of my dreams.
2:02.1	Akado, life delivered.
2:03.8	Geographical restrictions, min to spend 60 pounds and charges apply.
2:07.0	Max saving 20 pounds, new customers only, terms at Akado.com.
2:12.6	Hello, my lovely betwixters.
2:14.3	It's me, Kate Lister.
2:15.6	This is Betwixt the sheets.
2:17.0	Are you in the right place?
	...

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