In 1873, the emancipation of prostitute act was issued, but it was only claimed in theory that prostitutes worked by their free will, and the actual condition that they were in the circumstances of being over head and ears in debt was not changed.
1873年（明治6年）、芸娼妓解放令が出されたが、娼婦が自由意思で営業しているというたてまえになっただけで、前借金に縛られた境遇という実態は変わらなかった。