Oiran (花魁)
Oiran were the highest class of courtesans in Edo (now known as Tokyo). An oiran was valued not only for her beauty and charm, but also her wit, knowledge, and skill in traditional Japanese arts. Their dress often consisted of layers of ornate kimono and extremely elaborate hairstyles, with one distinguishing feature being an obi tied at the front of the body rather than at the back. Though there are no longer any “true” oiran left in Japan because of laws against prostitution, the culture of the oiran is still preserved.
