Japanese Courtesans in Indochina: Myth or Historical Reality?

They were Japanese, and they were regarded as courtesans… Their charm and presence captivated both French military officers and colonists in Indochina. Rumors painted them as modern-day Mata Haris—accused of using pillow talk to gather intelligence for the Japanese government, which had growing interests in Vietnam at the time. But what was the truth? Were these women mere legends, or did they play a real role in the shadows of history?

The Enigmatic Postcards
The postcards attributed to Pierre Marie Dieulefils, depicting Japanese women in Tonkin, were likely not his work. The same figures appear in various poses across different cards, suggesting a shared origin. Cartacaro hypothesizes that the original images may have come from a series titled Portrait de Japonaises (Portraits of Japanese Women). If you possess any of these postcards, we invite you to share the images with us—we’ll publish them, with or without your details, as you prefer.