ABSTRACT
Inancienttimesaguestwasunabletovisitabrothel direct,buthadtonegotiatefortheservicesofcourtesans throughthe"Age-ya."The"Age-ya"thenissuedawritten requestor"summons"(sa,shi-garni)tothebrothel,nominatingthewomandesired.Thebearerofthesesashi-gamiaccompaniedthecourtesansbothgoingandcomingbetween brothelsand"Age-ya,"andassoonasguestshadfinished their"spree"andleft,theyujoweresentbacktotheirrespectivehouses.Inthe"Kwagai]}fanroku"::ft~it~)aspecimencopyofthesummonsisgiven:thesizeisabout11"X5" (actually9sun6buX4sun3bu)andwordingasfollows:- Specimenof"Sa.shiga.mi.''
