The Taisho Era: Japan's Jazz Age

Between the Meiji reforms and the Showa decades sits a brief, stylish period of cafes, new magazines and modern girls.

Published October 18, 2026 at 11:43 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: The Taisho era ran from 1912 to 1926 and is remembered for urban modern culture. Cafes, department stores, cinema, jazz, mass-circulation magazines and Western-style fashion spread through Japanese cities, while writers, artists and designers created a distinctive blend of old and new that people still enjoy in museums and retro cafes today.

A short era with a long reputation

The Taisho era began in 1912, when Emperor Taisho took the throne, and ended in 1926. At fourteen years, it is one of the shortest modern eras, and it sits between the long Meiji period and the long Showa period. That brevity is part of why people often describe it as a distinct moment rather than a stage in a larger story. The era name Taisho means great righteousness. Many of the changes visible in the period were extensions of Meiji reforms, since schools, railways and factories were by then established.

What changed was the feel of daily life in cities, where an expanding middle class had new options for leisure, reading and shopping. The term Taisho democracy is sometimes used to describe a period of expanded political participation and lively public debate. Universal male suffrage was introduced in 1925. You do not need to follow every political detail to enjoy the culture, but it helps to know that ideas were circulating more freely than before.

Cafes, department stores and the modern city

Urban life is where the Taisho spirit is easiest to picture. Department stores, which had begun as kimono shops, started selling a wider range of goods and became destinations for families. Cafes opened in Tokyo and Osaka, serving coffee and Western-style sweets, and some became meeting points for writers and artists. The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 led to major rebuilding in Tokyo, which brought new architecture, wider roads and reinforced concrete buildings.

Reconstruction created a modern townscape that planners and architects still study today, and several buildings from this period survive in Tokyo and Yokohama. Today, you can find the style in retro kissaten (traditional coffee shops) with dark wood, stained glass and siphon coffee. These shops often describe their atmosphere as Taisho roman, a phrase that connects the era with romantic nostalgia. It is a pleasant way to experience the mood without needing a museum ticket.

Jazz, cinema and popular entertainment

Phonograph records, radio broadcasting and early cinema brought entertainment to a much larger audience. Radio broadcasting in Japan began in 1925, near the end of the era. Silent films, accompanied by live narrators known as benshi, were a major form of entertainment, and the narrators themselves became celebrities. Jazz and dance music arrived through ports like Yokohama and Kobe, and dance halls began to appear in major cities.

The Takarazuka Revue, founded in the 1910s in Hyogo Prefecture, grew in popularity during the period and still performs today, offering a glamorous theatrical experience. Popular songs and children's songs also flourished, and many beloved folk-style children's tunes date from the era. Magazines for children, such as the well-known Akai Tori, published stories and poems by respected authors. Cultural historians often point to these publications as a foundation for modern Japanese children's literature.

Writers, artists and the Shirakaba and Taisho romance spirit

Literature thrived in the period. Writers such as Akutagawa Ryunosuke, known for short stories like Rashomon and Hana, were active in these years. The Shirakaba group of writers and artists emphasized individuality and humanism, while other authors explored city life and psychology. In art, Yumeji Takehisa became famous for his illustrations of slender, wistful women, a style often called Yumeji-shiki bijin.

His work appeared in magazines, postcards and book covers, and a museum devoted to him operates in Tokyo, as well as one in his hometown of Okayama Prefecture. Check current opening information before you go. Design also had a bright moment. Posters, textiles and packaging used bold patterns in modern colors, and the so-called Taisho kimono and meisen silk, with its geometric or floral prints, are loved by collectors today. Vintage shops in Tokyo and Kyoto often carry them.

Fashion and the modern girl

One of the best-known images of the period is the moga, short for modan garu or modern girl. She typically appears in illustrations with a bobbed haircut, a cloche hat and a Western-style dress, though many women of the era continued to wear kimono in daily life. The same was true of the moba, the modern boy, who wore suits and fedoras. Kimono styles shifted as well.

Women's kimono moved toward lighter fabrics and playful colors, and haori jackets and hakama skirts became associated with young female students. Today, graduation ceremonies still feature women in hakama, a tradition many people connect with this period. For visitors, rental shops in cities such as Kyoto and Tokyo offer kimono with Taisho-style patterns. Booking ahead in peak seasons is wise, and staff can explain how the garments are worn.

Where to experience Taisho style today

Tokyo has several places that suit a Taisho-themed day. The Tokyo Station Hotel and the station's red-brick facade are from the period, and the Tokyo Station Gallery sits inside the building. The former Furukawa Gardens in Kita-ku and the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum show Western-influenced residential architecture from the era or the early Showa years. Yokohama's Red Brick Warehouse district and Kobe's Kitano neighborhood both reflect port-city culture.

In Kyoto, some old banks and office buildings have been turned into shops and cafes. In Aichi, the open-air museum Meiji-mura includes buildings from the Taisho years as well. Most of these places are within reach of a major train station, and details such as admission and hours change, so check official pages. Autumn and spring are comfortable seasons for strolling garden estates.

What to pair with a Taisho day

For food, think of yoshoku, the Western-style dishes that became popular in the period: omurice, croquettes, hayashi rice and pudding. Some old-fashioned restaurants and department store dining floors still serve them, and a classic cream soda or coffee float fits the mood. Reading is a nice pairing as well. Short stories by Akutagawa and poetry from the period have been translated into English, and many are short enough to enjoy in a cafe.

If you prefer visuals, search for Yumeji-style postcards in museum shops. A final tip: do not expect the era to be a single style. Cities and countryside lived differently, and many people kept traditional routines. Taisho is best seen as a layer in a larger picture, not a complete replacement of what came before. A slow afternoon with a pot of tea and a short story is often enough to bring the period to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long did the Taisho era last?

The Taisho era lasted from 1912 to 1926, about fourteen years, between the long Meiji and Showa periods. Its short length is one reason people treat it as a distinct cultural moment, remembered for cafes, cinema, jazz, magazines and a fashionable urban middle class.

What is Taisho roman?

Taisho roman is a phrase used for the romantic, nostalgic mood associated with the era. It often refers to retro design, stained glass, illustrations and fashion from those years. Many cafes, shops and museums in Japan use the phrase to describe their interior style or exhibitions.

Where can you see Taisho architecture?

Tokyo Station, Yokohama's port area, Kobe's Kitano district and the open-air museum Meiji-mura are good starting points. Many cities also have preserved banks, mansions and gardens from the period. Check official sites for current hours, access rules and any photography limits before you go.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: Sotsugyoshiki: Japanese Graduation Ceremonies, Gengo: How Japanese Era Names Work and Meiji-Mura: The Open-Air Architecture Museum.