Shirome

Shirome (白女) was a minor female Japanese waka poet, who lived during the 10th century CE.

She was born in Eguchi, Settsu Province (摂津国江口, modern day Osaka) and thought to be a daughter of a minor aristocrat Settsunokuni Tamabuchi (摂津国玉淵). Her occupation was an asobi/yujo (遊女), often translated as courtesan. Later in history the terms asobi/yujo frequently indicated someone who did sex work, however during the Heian period (794-1185) the terms often referred to a woman who was trained in the art of singing and dancing - similar to the latter day Geisha. Her performance in front of an abdicated emperor is recorded in a book Okagami (大鏡), The Great Mirror, and other sources.

A poem of hers was included in the Kokin Wakashū:


 * If I were only sure
 * I could live as long as I wanted to,
 * I would not have to weep
 * at parting from you.

命だに心にかなふ物ならばなにか別れの悲しからまし