***GOLDENBIRD***

It lasted such a brief time, squeezed between the revolutionizing Meiji (明治 1868-1912) and the warlike and industrious Showa (昭和 1926-1989). It was named after an emperor who was not very important after all. But in the Taisho period (大正時代), many Japanese tried the first steps towards a democratic, open society, challenging old values and new commands with artistic experiments, social and political grassroots activism, and travel to foreign countries.
Today, the expressions “Taisho chic” or “Taisho-roman” (from “romantic”) are often heard in Japan. People value the design and art style of that period and have a nostalgic feeling about it. MeijiTaisho.net is a beautiful site, quite new and hopefully growing. Some of my favourite Taisho artists are Takehisa Yumeji (some exhibitions: gallery blog, Yumeji and other Taisho artists, 大正ロマンの森 - “Taisho-romantic forest”) and ex-patriate Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita (”the Don Juan of the Slanted Eyes”, as Time Magazine called him in 1966. He loved women and cats. But what’s the deal with Foujita and Mitsuhirato?…).

January 25th, 2008 | Category: Historia, blog, nippon | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL