Yushiya Chiru

• Japanese/Okinawan: 吉屋鶴 (Yushiya Chiruu)

Yushiya Chirû was an Okinawan courtesan, celebrated for her poetry.

A beautiful dancer by the name of Yushiya-kimi appears in the 18th century Ryukyuan tale koke no shita ("Below the Moss").

Chirû was her given name; she took on the name Yushiya as a courtesan's pseudonym, or art-name. She is said to have lived a rather unhappy life, refusing to have her contract bought out, and fasting as she devoted her thoughts to a single man. It is believed that Yushiya Chirû was a real person; however, the extent to which her life matched up to this story is unclear.

References

• "Yushiya Chiru." Suitenrô. JCC Co., Ltd., 2013.