Yūkaku
Yūkaku were the regions in Japan where brothels recognized by the government were situated. In theory, prostitution was legal only in the Yūkaku region, but there were some places where prostitution was provided illegally.
In January 1946, GHQ issued an order nationwide to abolish Japan's licensed prostitution system, and the brothels in Yūkaku had to change their name to café or ryōtei, which transformed the Yūkaku into Akasen regions.
After the Anti-Prostitution Law was enforced in 1956, prostitution became banned in Japan, and as such the Yūkaku finally came to an end, though illegal prostitution still continues in Japan.
