also: わかしゅう
Dated term for a young person, often a young man. In modern Japanese, 若者 (わかもの) is the usual word.
pre-coming-of-age boy (Edo period)
Archaic term for a boy who had not yet undergone his coming-of-age ceremony, specifically in the Edo period.
young male prostitute (historical); young kabuki actor-prostitute; younger partner in male homosexual relationship (historical)
Archaic term for a young male prostitute, often associated with kabuki actors, or the younger partner in a historical male homosexual relationship. The older partner was called 念者 (ねんじゃ).
In old villages, the young men were responsible for preparing the festival.
In the Edo period, 若衆 referred to a boy before his coming-of-age ceremony.
In Edo-period kabuki, young male actors sometimes performed on stage.
Historical texts record relationships between older men (念者) and younger male partners (若衆).
male homosexuality; pederasty
young men's kabuki
Standard kanji form; the reading わかしゅ is the most common modern pronunciation.
Historical reading; now largely replaced by わかしゅ in modern usage.
Compound of 若 (young) and 衆 (group of people). The historical reading わかしゅう reflects older pronunciation, while わかしゅ is the modern form.