Todoza

The Todoza (当道座, Tōdōza) was a Japanese guild for blind men, established in the 14th century by the biwa hōshi Akashi Kakuichi (明石覚一, Akashi Kakuichi). Members performed a variety of roles, as itinerant musicians, masseurs, and acupuncturists. It received the patronage of the Muromachi and Edo shogunates, and remained active until the Meiji restoration, being eventually disbanded in 1871.

The organisation was hierarchally structured. The primary ranks, known as mōkan (盲官, blind offices), were Kengyo (検校, Kengyō) (the highest), then Betto (別当, Bettō), Koto (勾当, Kōtō), and Zato (座頭, Zatō). These were further subdivided into a total of 73 distinct grades. Total membership was usually around 3,000; it is not known what proportion of the total blind population this represents.

The Tōdōza accepted only male members. A separate organisation, the Gozeza (瞽女座, Gozeza), existed for blind women. There was additionally a further guild, the Mosoza (盲僧座, Mōsōza), similar to the Tōdōza but active mostly in the western regions of Japan.