COURTESAN HANAOGI

If a customer wished to see one of the high class “oiran” courtesans, they would first have to go via the “chaya” (tea house) who would act as mediator. They would not simply be able to put in the request for a meeting, but first, the client would be obliged to spend a considerable amount at the tea house beforehand to show that they had enough money to be worthy of playing with the “oiran”.