Yoshiwara - the 'floating world' of Imperial Edō. It was a place where momentary pleasures could be bought for a few coins, where there was license to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. Think of this book as an attempt at a literary Yoshiwara: a place where short pieces of function will try to bring you some gratification; a place where you you can glimpse the floating worlds of the imagination.

And, who knows? Some of them may even be good.