Hanamurasaki was a “Yobi-dashi” high-ranking prostitute employed by Tamaya Sanzaburo of Edo-cho 1-chome in the Yoshiwara, while “Sekiya” and “Teriha” were her accompanying maids. Comparing the courtesan’s name and maids’ names in Yoshiwara Saiken (the Guide to Yoshiwara), there is only an exact match for spring of Kansei 6 (1794), suggesting that this picture was published around that time. It captures her in the morning, writing a letter to her customer. Her hair is styled with a “baiwage”, false hair arranged vertically wound round a hairpin, and is tied with flat cords so as not to collapse. Further, the hairstyle in this picture has small rings created to the left and right. It is thought to be the earliest example expressing “kewari (hair cracks)” that show details of the hairline after being combed. It seems there was a custom when writing letters to important customers of adding some words written using rouge from the lips, and sealing the letter by blowing on it twice, to encourage them to come as soon as they had read the letter.