ukiyo

describes the urban lifestyle, especially the pleasure-seeking aspects, of Edo-period Japan (1600–1867). The Floating World culture developed in Yoshiwara, the licensed red-light district of Edo (modern Tokyo), which was the site of many brothels, chashitsu, and kabuki theaters frequented by Japan's growing middle class. A prominent author of the ukiyo genre was Ihara Saikaku. The ukiyo culture also arose in other cities such as Osaka and Kyoto.