Kagema

Historical term for some male sex workers in Japan

A man cavorts with a wakashū (probably a kagema) and a female sex worker. The wakashū (wearing headscarf) sneaks a kiss from the lady behind his patron's back. Nishikawa Sukenobu, c. 1716–1735. Hand-colored shunga print.

Kagema (陰間) is a Japanese term for historical young male sex workers. Kagema were often passed off as apprentice kabuki actors (who often engaged in sex work themselves on the side) and catered to a mixed male and female clientele. For male clients, the preferred service was anal sex, with the client taking the penetrative role;[1]: 109 homosexual fellatio is almost unmentioned in Edo period (1603–1867) documents.[1]: 121–122

Kagema who were not affiliated with an actual kabuki theatre could be hired through male brothels or teahouses specializing in kagema.[1]: 69–72 Such institutions were known as kagemajaya (陰間茶屋, lit. 'kagema teahouse'). Kagema typically charged more than female sex workers of equivalent status,[1]: p111 and associated notes and experienced healthy trade into the mid-19th century, despite increasing legal restrictions that attempted to contain sex workers (both male and female) in specified urban areas and to dissuade class-spanning relationships, which were viewed as potentially disruptive to traditional social organization.[1]: 70–78, 132–134

Many such sex workers, as well as many young kabuki actors, were indentured servants sold as children to the brothel or theater, typically on a ten-year contract.[1]: 69, 134–135 Kagema could be presented as yarō (young men), wakashū (adolescent boys, about 10–18 years old) or as onnagata (female impersonators).[1]: 90–92

This term also appears in modern Japanese homosexual slang.

## Gallery

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* A kagema sits upon his elder patron's lap. Miyagawa Isshō, Spring Pastimes, 1750

## See also

[edit]

* Sex work portal
* LGBTQ portal

* Catamite
* Greek love
* History of human sexuality
* Homosexuality in pre-Meiji Japan
* Kagemajaya (ja)
* Pederasty
* Wakashū

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e f g Leupp, Gary P. (1997). Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-20900-8.

## Bibliography

[edit]

* Bernard Faure "The Red Thread" 1998.

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Prostitution in Japan

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*[c.]: circa
*[lit.]: literal translation
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