noun
karayuki-san; young Japanese women sent abroad (often as prostitutes) in the Meiji to early Showa period
Historical term for Japanese women who went overseas, mainly to Southeast Asia, from the late 19th to early 20th century, often working as prostitutes. The term is now used in historical contexts.
See also: 唐行き (からゆき)
Karayuki-san is a historical term referring to Japanese women who went to Southeast Asia and other regions from the Meiji to early Showa period.
この小説は、からゆきさんとして海外で働いた女性の生涯を描いている。
This novel depicts the life of a woman who worked abroad as a karayuki-san.
からゆき is the base noun meaning 'going abroad' (historical); からゆきさん adds the honorific さん and specifically refers to the women themselves.
From 唐 (kara, 'foreign lands', historical) + 行き (yuki, 'going') + honorific さん. The exact origin is uncertain, but it became a common term during Japan's modernization period.