Shirome

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

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), which later in history meant a common prostitute however during Heian period (794-1185) it 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