December 3, 2012

Note on the Taishō Period

By gegallas

For many years, I have been fascinated by modern Japan — everything from the Meiji period (1868 – 1912) to current day. One of my favorite periods is a rather short one known as Taishō (1912 – 1926). What strikes me most about Taishō is the amazing blend of Japanese and Western aesthetics.

I think my interest in Taishō really began when I read Yukio Mishima’s novel Spring Snow (Haru no Yuki). This novel is actually a period piece — published in 1969, but set around 1912 – 1914. Mishima gives a detailed look at the Japanese class system of the period through a romantic tragedy (although I’m not sure Mishima saw this story as such).

My interest in Taishō developed further through a series of college courses on modern Japanese literature. I even did a project involving costume designs for a Taishō-set short story, involving research on fashion of the period from Kimonos and beyond.

I also find advertisements from this period interesting. Actually, the Shiseido ads from the 1900s through the 1930s are really remarkable! You can find out more about these ads on MIT’s Visualizing Cultures website.

Anyway, I just wanted to share a number of my favorite images:

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the following images!!

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About gegallas

Screenwriter, Author, and Illustrator. Born in Washington, D.C. Grew up in Potomac, Maryland. Spent year abroad in Tokyo, Japan at Sophia University. Graduated from New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Concentration entitled, "Exploring and Examining Otherness: Japan as well as The Globe." Colloquium/Rationale entitled, "The Hero as Other." Currently living in San Francisco. View all posts by gegallas

This entry was posted on Monday, December 3rd, 2012 at 11:41 am and tagged with Japan, Japanese, Literature, History, Period Piece, Brainstorming, Research, Illustration, Story, Strange, Short Story, Fashion, Clothing, College, Aesthetic, Images, Yukio Mishima, Spring Snow, Modern, Haru no Yuki, Class, Weird, Unusual, Website, Historical, Vibrant, Note, Period, Interest, Novel, Published, Tragedy, Share, Storytelling, Graphic Design, Ad, Book, Cool, Favorite, Fascination, Brilliant, Woodblock Carving, Taisho Period, Era, Advertisement, Fascinated, Fascinating, Meiji Period, Turn of the Century, Current Day, Taisho, Chic, Western, Aesthetics, Class System, Romantic, Romantic Tragedy, Developed, Japanese Literature, Kimono, Kimonos, Beyond, Shiseido, MIT, Visualizing Cultures, Remarkable, Colors and posted in Research, Brainstorming. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

11 Responses to “Note on the Taishō Period”

Dean Whitehorn artblogs
December 3rd, 2012 at 12:04 pm

Fabulous designs in the posters! Thanks for showing them and congrats on you blog!

Reply
- gegallas
  December 3rd, 2012 at 12:07 pm
  
  Dean: Thanks for stopping by and for your kind words! Keep up the great artwork. Best regards, G. E.
  
  Reply
eyenoodledoodle
December 3rd, 2012 at 8:43 pm

Snazizzz, what is the one with the boats in the background from? its got me drooling over the colors!

Reply
- gegallas
  December 3rd, 2012 at 9:20 pm
  
  Thanks for the comment! I wish I could tell you where that image is from, but I found it on Tumblr and have no other information on it. I’ll try to figure it out if I can! Best, G. E.
  
  Reply
eyenoodledoodle
December 3rd, 2012 at 10:29 pm

Lovely it’s really the odd one of the bunch I would be very grateful if you let me know if you find any more like that one.

Reply
- gegallas
  December 3rd, 2012 at 10:35 pm
  
  Will do! –G. E.
  
  Reply
angrygaijin
December 5th, 2012 at 4:43 pm

That’s a cool collection of images~~

Reply
- gegallas
  December 5th, 2012 at 6:53 pm
  
  Thanks for following, and for your comments and likes! Best regards, G. E.
  
  Reply
  - angrygaijin
    December 6th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
    
    You earned it! ^_^
Bill Hayes
December 14th, 2012 at 2:29 pm

Absolutely lovely graphics. When I used to walk around the Tokyo subway system I was forever having my breath taken away by some of the fatastic adveriting posters. I could spend hours looking at some of them.

Reply
- gegallas
  December 14th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
  
  Bill: Thank you so much for following and for the comment! I’m glad you enjoyed my post. Yes, I know exactly what you mean about the Tokyo subway system and their fantastic advertisements. So you spent time in Tokyo as well? I was there for my year abroad. Would love to hear more about your adventures in Japan! Also, I look forward to taking a look at your blog. Best regards, G. E.
  
  Reply