Virtual tour
Japan
The inter-war period saw a dramatic transformation in Japan. The growth of cities such as Tokyo stimulated the development of a thriving urban culture centred on the department store, cinema and café. Questions of cultural identity were debated as Japan sought to balance the demands of tradition and modernity, East and West. Art Deco, itself partly inspired by the arts of Asia, had particular appeal.
The reconstruction of the capital after a major earthquake in 1923 saw the erection of many Art Deco buildings. The style was seen as a fitting choice for the creation of a modern, sophisticated city. The impact of Art Deco is also evident in striking ceramic, metal, lacquer and graphic works of the 1920s and 1930s.
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