Tag

#Meiji

25 terms

Aozora Bunko

Aozora Bunko is a free online digital library of Japanese literary works whose copyrights have expired, promoting open access to cultural heritage.

Benshi

Benshi were live narrators and performers for silent films in Japan, shaping early cinematic experiences and influencing Japanese film style.

Chindon'ya

Chindon'ya are traditional Japanese street performers who parade through towns, playing instruments and advertising businesses with colorful banners.

Enka

Discover Enka, a traditional Japanese music genre embodying themes of love, loss, and nostalgia with its distinctive vocal style and dramatic melodies.

Gakumon no Susume (An Encouragement of Learning)

Explore Fukuzawa Yukichi's influential Meiji-era work, 'Gakumon no Susume,' advocating for universal education and individual independence in Japan.

Genbun Itchi

Genbun Itchi is a pivotal linguistic reform movement in Meiji-era Japan that unified the written and spoken language, making literature and communication more accessible.

Gendai-geki

Gendai-geki are Japanese contemporary dramas depicting modern life, contrasting with historical Jidai-geki to reflect current society and culture.

Haiku

A traditional Japanese short poetic form, typically 5-7-5 syllables, known for capturing nature, fleeting moments, and profound insights.

Hanafuda

Hanafuda are traditional Japanese playing cards with designs depicting flora from the 12 months, evolving from gambling bans into a popular game of strategy and art.

Higuchi Ichiyō

Higuchi Ichiyō (1872-1896) was a pioneering female writer of the Meiji era, known for her realistic portrayals of women's lives and social struggles.

Jidaigeki

Explore Jidaigeki, the captivating genre of Japanese historical drama in film and television, featuring samurai, ninja, and feudal Japan.

Jun Bungaku (Pure Literature)

Explores Japanese "pure literature," focusing on artistic merit, psychological depth, and social commentary rather than popular entertainment.

Kawabata Yasunari

Nobel laureate Kawabata Yasunari, a master of modern Japanese literature, explored themes of beauty, loneliness, and impermanence through lyrical prose.

Kendo (剣道)

Kendo, the "way of the sword," is a modern Japanese martial art descended from samurai swordsmanship, emphasizing discipline and spirit.

Kodan (講談)

Kodan is a traditional Japanese oral storytelling art, vividly narrating historical events, war tales, and heroic sagas with dramatic flair.

Min'yō

Explore Min'yō, the diverse traditional folk music of Japan, rooted in work, festivals, and daily life across its various regions.

Natsume Sōseki

Natsume Sōseki (1867-1916) was a seminal Japanese novelist, whose works critically explored themes of individualism, societal change, and the human condition during Japan's rapid modernization.

Nihonga

Explore Nihonga, a style of Japanese painting that emerged in the Meiji era, blending traditional techniques with modern artistic expressions.

Nintendo

Explore Nintendo's journey from traditional hanafuda cards to global video game giant, a testament to Japanese innovation and play.

Rōkyoku

Rōkyoku is a dramatic Japanese narrative art where a storyteller, accompanied by shamisen, recounts heroic tales and human dramas with powerful voice.

Shinpa (New School Theatre)

Explore Shinpa, a pioneering Japanese theatre genre from the Meiji era that blended traditional stagecraft with modern melodramatic realism.

Shishosetsu (I-Novel)

A uniquely Japanese literary genre blending autobiography and fiction, exploring the author's inner world and personal experiences.

Tsugaru Shamisen

Discover Tsugaru Shamisen, the dynamic and percussive three-stringed instrument from Northern Japan, known for its powerful sound and improvisational spirit.

Yonkoma Manga

A four-panel comic strip format in Japan, known for its concise storytelling, often following the kishōtenketsu structure for humor and narrative.

Yosano Akiko

Explore Yosano Akiko, a revolutionary Japanese poet and feminist who challenged norms and celebrated individuality in the Meiji and Taisho eras.