▪️ Taisho-Roman
The Taisho Era was a period of only 14 years and 5 months, from July 1912 to December 1926. Despite its short duration, however, it was a distinctive period. During this turbulent period, Western art and lifestyles brought to Japan during the Meiji Era merged with Japan's own culture, and a culture known as "Taisho-Roman" flourished.
▪️About the Taisho Era
The Taisho Era was a time of political participation by the common people. The term "Taisho Democracy" is used to describe the Taisho Era, a movement that was active from the late Meiji Era to the Taisho Era, in which the masses attempted to change politics and society. Citizens began to assert their individual rights and freedoms, and the "rice riots" of 1918 triggered a growing interest in politics among the public.
The post-World War I economic boom gave birth to a wealthy class of people known as "the rich," but most of the people were plagued by skyrocketing prices, and the gap between the rich and the poor widened. In addition, while industrialization was advancing, agriculture was in decline, and the soaring price of rice triggered a riot. The rice riot led to the dissolution of the cabinet of the time and the birth of the cabinet of "Takashi Hara," a man without a title.
In 1914, "Tokyo Station" (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) opened and the red brick station building that can still be seen today was built. The Takarazuka Revue was also born in the same year. Beer also became popular around this time, attracting people to beer halls and cafes.
Changes also occurred in clothing. In the Meiji era, Western-style clothing was considered formal attire for the upper classes. Some military personnel and other professionals wore Western-style clothing as part of their uniforms, but even in the first half of the Taisho era (1912-1926), Japanese-style clothing was still the norm. However, as Western culture gradually took root, kimonos with Western-style patterns and bright colors appeared.
It was not until the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 that Western-style clothing became widely popular among the general public. It is said that Western-style clothing became popular because many people who were wearing kimonos at the time of the earthquake had difficulty moving and were unable to escape the disaster. The style of women students wearing hakama with boots also appeared around this time.
Infrastructure also spread to the countryside, with subways and other forms of transportation, as well as water and gas, being provided.
▪️ Definition of Taisho-Roman
The Taisho Era is peppered throughout with remnants of the Meiji Era and signs of the Showa Era. Today, the term "Taisho-Roman" is used to describe the architecture and culture that emerged during the Taisho era, and is defined as "the unique ideas, culture, and art that convey the atmosphere of the Taisho era.
Western art and lifestyles that came to Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912) were fused with traditional Japanese culture during the Taisho era (1912-1926) and became a uniquely Japanese culture.
The architecture, furniture, and furnishings of Tokyo Station, the former Iwasaki Residence Garden (Taito-ku, Tokyo), and the Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library (Kita-ku, Osaka) show how well Japanese and Western characteristics were blended.
The word "high collar" is sometimes used to describe "Taisho-Roman," an abbreviation of the English word "high collar," which is derived from the fact that the collar of a Western shirt is higher than that of a Japanese shirt. Also, young people enjoying cutting-edge clothing and lifestyles influenced by Western culture, called "moga" and "mobo," short for "modern girl" and "modern boy," respectively, appeared on the scene. On the artistic side, lyrical paintings of beautiful women by Takehisa Yumeji and modern paintings by Takabatake Kasho became popular.
The Taisho period had a bright side with modernization and a heightened sense of democracy, and a darker side with war and disasters. The charm of Taisho Roman lies in its seemingly glamorous but somehow melancholy atmosphere. In Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, there is the "Japan Taisho Village," which recreates and preserves the streets of the Taisho era, where you can see buildings that convey the good old culture of the Taisho era.
▪️Taisho-Roman Kimono
Many Taisho-Roman kimonos have a modern yet nostalgic design, and have a unique charm that combines a new style influenced by the West with ancient Japanese traditions.
In particular, the following points can be cited as characteristics of Taisho-Roman kimonos.
Taisho-Roman kimonos are characterized by bold patterns and vivid colors, and use flowers, birds, and abstract patterns. Various materials such as silk and meisen are used. Silk in particular is highly valued for its luster and texture. Many kimonos are delicately embroidered by hand, and these embroideries are one of the main attractions of antique kimonos. Flowers, birds, and landscapes carefully drawn with fine threads fascinate the viewer.
