Imayō Bijin

今様美人

Mizuno Toshikata

Akiyama Buemon · 1898

Mizuno Toshikata’s woodblock print series, titled Imayo Bijin (“Present-day Beauties”) delves into the pastimes of contemporary women during the late 19th century.

Imayo Bijin was published in 12 monthly installments between 1897 and 1898 by Akiyama Buemon, a prominent publisher of the time. Each scene depicts a different seasonal motif for each month, such as O Shūgi (“Gifts for the Dead”) in January, Mi Ume (“Plum Blossom Viewing”) in February, and Yuki-mi (“Snow Viewing”) in December.

Toshikata's intricate depictions of the women's clothing and hairstyles that were popular during the Meiji era provide a sense of the fashions of the time. Details such as an oriental rug in one of the rooms, or men wearing cylinder hats in the background, hint at the growing Western influences in everyday life in Meiji Japan.