1920's Japan Chic

From about World War I through the mid 1920's under the reign of Emperor Taisho in Japan, there was an evolution of a new culture in Japanese society.

The American Roaring Twenties reached Japan, and the Jazz music and styles mixed—and clashed—with the traditional Japanese values of tranquility and harmony.

These styles were reflected in the Taisho artwork of the period, which focused in large part on the "modern girl" (modan gaaru or moga), whose styles were equivalent to the flappers of the Western world. The art of this period evokes a stunning mood and fascinating mix of cultures.

You can view the artwork at Taisho Chic: Japanese Modernity, Nostalgia and Deco at the University of California Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive from September 14, 2005 - December 23, 2005.