Meiji & Taisho Romantica

Exploring depictions of Japan's early embracement of Western fashion, spanning from the cultural enlightenment era of the Meiji Period (1868-1912) to the modern girl era of the Taisho Period (1912-1926). Woodblock prints, illustrations, and photographs.

[iseo58]

[sisterwolf]

In beach fashion, Japan, about 1920’s.

[haikara-nippon]

Excerpts from a Yokohama dialect Japanese phrasebook in the 1800s

Bishop of Homoco

Yokohama, 1879

[haikara-nippon]

戦前　モガ Pre-war era Modern Girls

1930s

[haikara-nippon]

デパートのマネキンガール Department store mannequin girls

1929

[haikara-nippon]

ヨーヨーで遊ぶ女性 Ladies playing with a yo-yo

1933

[haikara-nippon]

昭和前期　資生堂　ポスター Early Showa-era Shiseidō Posters

1920s

[haikara-nippon]

盛リコレ　～ＪＫの盛りポーズの歴史～ Mori Pose Collection ~History of Japanese High School Girls’ Pose~

東京パフォーマンスドール Tokyo Performance Doll (NTT Docomo x Snow collaboration)

2017

[aurorae]

[taishou-kun]

Domon Ken 土門 拳 (1909-1990)

Young nurses of the Red Cross, Azabu/Tokyo - Japan - 1938

[haikara-nippon]

Actress/dancer Ashita Matsuko, at the Moulin Rouge Theater Shinjuku

From left to right are 伏見愛子 Fushimi Aiko, actor/film director 小崎政房 Ozaki Masafusa, 明日待子 Ashita Matsuko, and actress 望月優子 Mochizuki Yūko.

1935

[haikara-nippon]

明日待子 Ashita Matsuko (1920 - )

Ashita Matsuko is a former popular actress and dancer during the wartime era. She was the poster girl of the Moulin Rouge theater in Shinjuku, Tokyo during the early Showa era until after the war.

During the war, the Japanese government utilized her for national policy and featured her in various war posters and publishings, including “idol” magazines published by the Army/Navy intended for soldiers on the battlefield. Many soldiers looked forward to receiving the magazine.

Ashita Matsuko smiling while reading a newspaper article about a naval battle in Malaya on December 10, 1941.

The first edition of the Navy-published “idol magazine” 戦線文庫 Sensen Bunko (Frontline Paperback)

Poster for a performance in Manchuria.

Here’s how she looks like now at the age of 97.

[haikara-nippon]

戦時中アイドル　明日待子 Wartime-era idol, Ashita Matsuko (1920 - )

Ashita Matsuko is a former popular actress and dancer during the wartime era. She was the poster girl of the Moulin Rouge theater in Shinjuku, Tokyo during the early Showa era until after the war.

[haikara-nippon]

Students of Jiyū Gakuen Girls’ School, Tokyo

1920s

[taishou-kun]

みんな、新年あけましておめでとうございます 2017！Happy New Year 2017 to everyone! Selamat Tahun Baru 2017 semua orang！ Bonne année 2017 à tous！

Kaburagi Kiyokata 鏑木 清方 (1878-1979)

Harusō 春装 (Springwear) (with a Kweepie doll) from 國民新聞 (National newspaper) appendix - Japan - 1917

[aozoramusume]

Aizen Katsura (Hiromasa Nomura, 1938)

[holespoles]

Old Japanese Postcard

西洋魔術博物館 ‏@MuseeMagica 雑。1920年頃の時代的雰囲気を探ってあちこちさまよううちに、大正九年に出た日本の絵葉書に遭遇。妙にモダンな絵柄が気になるのでここで紹介。もうオカルトとはまったく関係ございませんのであしからず。 pic.twitter.com/5DMXS4qGLE

[taishou-kun]

Bar no onna バアーの女 (Bar girl) & Movie girl 映画の女 - Japanese postcards from Taisho era - Japan - 1921

Source Twitter (Western Magical Museum) 西洋魔術博物館 @ Musee Magica

[haikara-nippon]

電気ブラン Denki Bran

Denki Bran is a brandy cocktail drink that was created in the Kamiya Bar of Asakusa, Tokyo in the 1890s. The word “denki” means electricity, and “bran” stood for “brandy”. 

During the Meiji era when electricity was still considered a rarity, many electric novelties were called “denki (something)”. At that time, imported Western-style goods were considered stylish and attracted people’s attention. Hence the decision to name the drink “Denki Bran”.

[haikara-nippon]

幼稚鳩巣戯劇之圖 Playing the Pigeon’s Nest game

A painting of Japan's first kindergarten teachers — Clara Matsuno (née Zitelmann) (top), Hama Kondo (bottom) and Fuyu Toyoda (right). 

You can read more about Clara’s life here