Discover the roots of contemporary Japanese popular culture through groundbreaking printed media produced from the late Meiji through early Shōwa periods. The Taishō period (1912-1926) in particular witnessed a flourishing publishing industry, giving birth to distinctive aesthetic designs and illustrations that beautifully merged Western art, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco styles with Japanese traditions.
This exhibition presents approximately 400 carefully selected items from the collection of Yamada Toshiyuki, who passionately gathered modern books and prints where literature, art, and music intermingle. Explore the fleeting yet vast imagery of the Taishō period—unforgettable visual memories that captivated the public—through works of prominent artists including Fujishima Takeji, Sugiura Hisui, and Takehisa Yumeji, while delving into various designs that mirror this transformative era.