An Oiran was a high-ranking courtesan in Japan’s Yoshiwara red-light district during the Edo period. Unlike lowly prostitutes, Oiran were celebrities, fashion icons, and artists in their own right. Naming an anime after them immediately signaled a historical period piece—and one dripping with erotic tension.
Tetsuji Takechi, a filmmaker notable for his contributions to the pinku eiga (pink film) genre and for challenging Japanese censorship.
Critics highlight its extraordinary cinematography (by Akira Takada) and a "mish-mash" of styles—ranging from traditional period drama to outlandish supernatural horror.