Kagema

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, ca. 1716–1735. Hand-colored shunga print.

'Kagema' (陰間) is a historical Japanese term for 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 Tokugawa-era 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 young men (yarō), wakashū (adolescent boys, about 10–18 years old) or as onnagata (female impersonators).^{[1]: 90–92}

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

This term also appears in modern Japanese homosexual slang.

See also[]

• Homosexuality in Ancient Japan
• Kagemajaya (ja)

References[]

• Bernard Faure "The Red Thread" 1998.