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.
Karayuki-san refers to Japanese women who went to Southeast Asia and other places from the Meiji era to the early Showa period.
Her great-grandmother went to Singapore as a karayuki.
From 唐行き, literally “going abroad”; 唐 could denote China but was also used more broadly for foreign lands. The term came to designate Japanese women sent overseas, especially to Southeast Asia, for sex work.