At the dawn of the 20th century, young Japanese women faced a serious aesthetic dilemma:
a. Keep the hair long, slide into a kimono, and continue the elegant traditions passed down for centuries,
or
b. Chop the hair, perm it into oblivion at the new Shiseido parlor, slip into a dress, and take on the modern world one bus route or elevator panel at a time.
Option A had its own timeless allure. Picture this:
A geisha in her dressing room, gently applying white makeup to the nape of her neck—the part traditionally considered most beautiful. She’s smiling quietly, her blue floral kimono slipping from her shoulders as she works. A small ceramic bowl of makeup rests on a black lacquer stand, and her hair is pinned with a tortoiseshell comb and tied with a red shibori ribbon. Grace, precision, and centuries of culture in a single image.
But across town, in a much less lacquered room, the Modern Girl was busy transforming the future.
She waitressed. She guided buses. She rode elevators all the way to the top floor (because she was operating them). And most impressively… she typed.
Yes, the Typist.
It wasn’t just about clackity-clacking on a typewriter. These women were basically the IT engineers of pre-war Japan—except with better posture and significantly more bows.
Typing speed? Required.
But the real skill? Liberal arts mastery.
These weren’t your average memo-makers. Typists translated important documents, worked in multiple languages (English, German, and fluent shade), and corrected historical facepalms like:
“32nd President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln.”
(Cue dramatic red ink scrawl: “It’s Franklin D. Roosevelt, dummy.”)
In an era without spell check, Google, or generative AI, typists were the human version of ChatGPT with better judgment and stricter margins. They were highly paid, highly educated, and highly sought-after by every major company in Japan.
They didn’t just type.
They corrected the men.
They carried the receipts.
They were the quiet power behind many a suit.
So next time you admire a sleek Apple keyboard, pour one out for the sharp-witted women who typed so Japan could modernize—and did it all in heels, while their geisha sisters kept the art of grace alive just a few tatami mats away.
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