からゆき

noun

karayuki-san; Japanese women sent abroad (esp. as prostitutes) in the Meiji to early Showa era

Historical term referring to young Japanese women who went overseas, mainly to Southeast Asia, often working as prostitutes. The term is strongly associated with the Meiji to early Showa period.

• からゆきさんは、明めい治じから昭しょう和わ初しょ期きにかけて東とう南なんアジアなどに渡わたった日本にほん人じん女じょ性せいを指さす。

  Karayuki-san refers to Japanese women who went to Southeast Asia and other places from the Meiji era to the early Showa period.

• 彼かの女じょの曾そう祖そ母ぼはからゆきとしてシンガポールに渡わたった。

  Her great-grandmother went to Singapore as a karayuki.