ABSTRACT
A clear difference emerged that set apart the Taishō world from that of Meiji. Until the last years of the Meiji period, the number of cafes and bars could be counted on the Þ ngers of the hands. Then their numbers started to increase explosively. Moving picture theaters also began to be built one after another. Taishō geisha appeared. And the Taishō harp came into fashion.3 The sound that it emitted was light and frivolous. And so was everything else. All that was ‘cheap and convenient’ made giant strides.
