Tag: yumeji takehisa

Shōjo Magazines and Kawaii Culture – Part 1: Pre-War Publications

Shōjo magazines have played a key role in the development and dissemination of girl culture throughout Japan. First published in the early 20th century, these publications provided a unique platform for young schoolgirls (shōjo) to develop a shared cultural identity. These magazines were also filled with gorgeous illustrations by prominent artists like Yumeji Takehisa, Kashō Takabatake, Katsuo Matsumoto, and Junichi Nakahara. Their distinctive styles helped to shape modern shōjo and, by extension, the kawaii aesthetics.

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Japan Trip 2023 Exhibit Recap: Yayoi-Yumeji Museum in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo!

Wrapping up my Japan 2023 trip museum round up is the Yayoi-Yumeji Museum located in Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. Nestled back in a charming little neighborhood not too far from Ueno Park, this hidden gem features rotating exhibits showcasing various kawaii illustrators from the Taisho, Showa, and Heisei periods. Complementing these exhibits are carefully curated selections from the museum’s extensive permanent collections of works by Yumeji Takehisa and Kasho Takabatake. Really two museums combined into one, the Yayoi Museum and the Yumeji Museum, this is an essential Tokyo destination for any kawaii history fan!

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Yumeji Takehisa - Tanabata

Yumeji Takehisa – Taisho Romanticism and the Roots of Kawaii

While Kawaii as a modern concept didn’t begin until the 1970s, the roots of Kawaii can be traced back to the Taisho period (1912-1926), starting with artist, poet, and illustrator, Takeshisa Yumeji. Considered to be the godfather of kawaii, Takehisa was a leading figure of the Japanese Taisho Romanticism art movement, which combined current western art styles, such as Art Nouveau and Jugendstil, with Japanese artistic traditions.

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