21st Century Necromancer-Chapter 891 - 885 Gion
Chapter 891 -885 Gion
Gion is Kyoto’s largest geisha district in Japan. It is Kyoto’s most famous “entertainment district” and, during the Tokugawa Shogunate period, was one of the two great centers of pleasure and culture alongside Yoshiwara in Edo.
Of course, compared to Yoshiwara, Gion, being primarily focused on geisha, lacked the flesh trade, lending it a somewhat more refined aura.
The origins of Gion can be traced back to the early Tokugawa Shogunate, when the government allowed teahouses to operate in the area. This led to Gion’s rise, and at its peak, it boasted over four thousand geisha, making it one of the most prosperous districts in Japan.
Among all of Gion, the most renowned spot is Hanami Lane.
This street is home to numerous historic teahouses, some of which have been passed down through more than ten generations.
On this street, time seems to stand still, with everything maintaining the appearance of the past. If you don a kimono and carry a red Tang paper umbrella while strolling along Hanami Lane, you might even find it hard to distinguish whether you are in the modern era or walking through the Edo Period.
Compared to the modernized Tokyo, Kyoto has always retained this ancient charm, as if everything is frozen in the days of old, as though time never truly flowed.
However, the emperors and nobles who once resided here have long since vanished into the dust of history, leaving today’s Kyoto as a weary, aging city, clinging to the remnants of its former elegance.
Perhaps this is also a reflection of modern Japan—a nation that, while outwardly prosperous, is inwardly aging, like an elderly person slowly losing vitality.
The wealth accumulated during the nation’s youth might allow the “elderly” Japan to live comfortably and nostalgically reminisce about past glory, yet it cannot obscure the reality of its continuous decline and the fact that others have long surpassed it.
Just like Kyoto—a thousand-year-old capital that was once Japan’s political center, but following Emperor Meiji’s relocation of the capital, its decline became inevitable. The once bustling Kyoto has steadily quieted down, transforming into an increasingly ordinary and aging city.
Even Gion has experienced a downturn in fortunes. The ancient geisha profession has struggled to find successors in recent years, teetering on the brink of collapse, and only a few hundred young women now remain in Gion to continue working as geisha.
Of course, none of this has much to do with Chen Yu and his companions, who are merely here as tourists.
As the group stepped out of Yasaka Shrine, night had fallen, and lanterns began to illuminate the streets of Gion.
The quaint streets and traditional shops hidden behind wooden fences exuded a warm and inviting feeling under the glow of yellow lights, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
“Gion at night—that’s the real Gion!” Chen Yu couldn’t help but smile and remark as he watched the lights gradually brighten.
After all, historically, Gion truly came alive at night when businesses opened and geisha entertained guests. The daytime interactions with tourists and tour groups are merely performances that showcase the elegance of the ancient geisha profession, not their actual work.
However, upon hearing Chen Yu’s comment, Jounouchi Hiromi suddenly reached out and pinched the soft flesh at Chen Yu’s waist, teasingly asking, “Hubby, you seem very excited about Gion’s nightlife, don’t you?”
Caught off guard, Chen Yu’s expression instantly changed. Forcing a smile, he quickly responded, “Honey, what are you talking about? There’s no way I’d be excited about Gion’s nightlife. I’m merely curious about geisha, this traditional Japanese culture!”
“It’s Naoki actually! Back when we were students, he used to tell me how much he admired Gion’s geisha and Edo’s courtesans. But since Yoshiwara no longer exists, we had to come to Gion to experience the geisha culture, which is why I planned our visit here today!”
Following the principle of “better him than me,” Chen Yu unhesitatingly passed the blame onto Inomata Naoki.
Having been thrown under the bus, Inomata Naoki glanced at Tokairin Yuko beside him and hurriedly protested, “Brother Yu! How could you push the blame onto me like this? Back in school, wasn’t it *you* who said that once we succeeded in life and earned big money, we’d all come to Gion to hire a courtesan for drinks?”
“When did I ever say such a thing? I can’t afford a courtesan from Gion!” Chen Yu quickly retorted.
Though his words were an attempt to deflect, the truth was that with his current status and income, hiring a courtesan from Gion was no longer out of reach for him—it was entirely possible.
In fact, he wouldn’t even need to reveal his identity as a demigod; just his status as the inventor of the broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug would be enough for countless people to grant him the highest level of hospitality.
Even if Chen Yu was in Tokyo, as long as he made the request, someone could very well package up Gion’s finest courtesan and send her straight to his doorstep—or even his bed. freewebnσvel.cøm
However, such extravagance held little appeal for Chen Yu, and he was not the kind of man to indulge in it.
Visiting Gion to see geisha was, for him, a form of cultural curiosity—an effort to understand what made geisha culture one of Japan’s most iconic traditions.
But if he were to deliberately partake in something ostentatious, he’d rather opt for the hostesses at Ginza instead.
After a round of laughter and banter, the group finally arrived at the ryotei Chen Yu had reserved. Led by the staff, they were seated in a private room.
In truth, ryotei establishments like this typically do not employ geisha directly. Instead, all geisha are trained at geisha houses, and when ryotei require their services, they simply notify the geisha house, which then sends geisha to entertain guests.
Since both geisha houses and ryotei—along with teahouses—are centuries-old institutions within Gion, they have long established seamless collaborative relationships. While outsiders might not know which geisha from each geisha house serves which ryotei or teahouse, for those within Gion’s circle, these details are common knowledge.
Under such arrangements, popular geisha often entertain numerous guests in a single night, so it’s nearly impossible to meet them without an advanced reservation.
The ryotei Chen Yu had chosen was quite upscale, and its proprietress provided an excellent reception. The lavish spread of food delighted the group, who had only nibbled on snacks earlier in the day, and they eagerly dove in.
After filling their stomachs, Chen Yu finally asked the proprietress, “Madam, where is the geisha performance we reserved?”
“Please wait a moment; they’ll be here shortly,” the proprietress replied without any hint of displeasure at Chen Yu’s impatience. She smiled and urged him to be patient, engaging him in pleasant conversation.
The proprietress of this ryotei was a woman in her fifties who still carried herself with an enduring charm—a common sight among the proprietresses of Gion’s teahouses and ryotei. These establishments were almost exclusively run by women, passed down through generations, and in some cases, spanning ten or more lineages, relying on adopted successors.
This unique form of inheritance had preserved the fundamental essence and character of Gion’s ryotei and teahouses.
While chatting with the proprietress, the geisha performance the group had been eagerly anticipating finally began to unfold.
