Modern Tokyo (モダン東京)

This 1929 sheet music cover, designed by Saitō Keizō, captures the “modern girl” (モダンガール) aesthetic of early Shōwa Japan. Its bold geometric composition and Art Deco influences reflect Western modernism, while the playful, abstract depiction of a woman’s leg, balloon, and stylized eye ties into Japan’s fascination with cosmopolitan life. The typography and color palette merge avant-garde experimentation with accessible pop design, typical of Japan’s jazz-age urban culture.