Sada Yacco
Listen to ArtMuse's episode on the the Japanese geisha, actress, dancer, and fashion icon Sada Yacco.
When she first arrived in Paris at the turn of the twentieth century, she sent the entire city abuzz with excitement. Appearing like an apparition from a fantastical dream, she introduced Western audiences to Japanese theater and culture, eventually becoming Japan’s first international female celebrity. Picasso immortalized her on paper, Alfredo Müller printed her on poster, and Guerlain released a perfume inspired by her. Though her time abroad was short, she dazzled the entire western world, and left an indelible impression everywhere she went. When she eventually returned to Japan, she sought to open new avenues of opportunity for Japanese women, founding the country’s first school for female actresses. Over the course of her fruitful career, she transcended cultural boundaries, challenged societal norms, and captured the heart of both the East and West.
Though Sada was once an international icon with world-wide recognition, her name and immense legacy have faded from history and she has since largely fallen into obscurity. So in today’s episode we aim to honor Sada as the outstanding and groundbreaking woman she was.
This episode is produced by Kula Production Company.
REFERENCES
Downer, Lesley. Madame Sadayakko: The Geisha Who Seduced the West. Gotham Books, 2003.
IMAGES
Momusuke Iwasaki (Sada’s first love) in adulthood.
Itō Hirobumi, Japan’s first Prime Minister.
Kawakami Otojiro, Sada’s husband.
Sada pictured next to Kawakami Otojiro in 1903.
Sada on the cover of Harper’s Bazar in March of 1900.
Loïe Fuller, who invited Sada to perform in her pavilion at the 1900 Exposition in Paris.
Sada Yacco in a poster for the 1900 Paris Exposition
by Alfredo Müller.
Sada on the cover of Le Theatre, in October of 1900.
Leonetto Cappiello, Portrait of Sada Yacco, 1900.
Pablo Picasso’s sketch of Sada made in 1901.
Pablo Picasso, Sada Yacco, 1901.
William Nicholson, Sada Yacco, lithograph, 1902.
Ramon Casas, Portrait of Sada Yacco, 1902.
Sada with her dogs in 1902.
Sada as Ophelia in 1903.
Sada as Ophelia in 1903.
Sada and Kawakami in 1905.
Sada Yakko as Musume Dojoji, 1907.
Sada Yacco circa 1910’s.
