Oiran Buchi - The Courtesan’s Abyss

Kurokawa gold mine, located in the Kurokawa Kinzan Mountain, is the ancestral home of the Takeda Clan. During the 1570’s, the mine was at its peak, providing the leader Takeda Shingen with great power and influence. History states that at the time the miners were serviced by at least 55 courtesans; these women were there to entertain the men as they wanted, but when the mine started to dry up and become redundant, the area was to be abandoned and the women were not needed anymore. The location of the mine was always kept a secret, and this meant it was apparently too risky to just let the courtesans go as they may provide enemy clans with information on where the mine was located. A brutal plan to get rid of the women that involved building a platform over the gorge was put in place. As the women stood on the stage practicing for a welcome party that would never happen, the supports were taken out by the men, and the women fell to their deaths. Legend has it that you can hear the wails and cries of the women to this day.

Links:

History of Japan

The Sengoku Archives

Travel Triangle