Watch Imperial Japanese Dance

With the continued popularity of Gilbert and Sullivan's THE MIKADO (which debuted in 1885), Japanese dancing girls enjoyed a certain caché in New York's theatrical world. This film featuring the Sarashe Sisters was shown in Japan as NIPPON MAIKO NUNO SARASHI (JAPANESE DANCING MAIDENS WAVING STREAMERS. "Sarashi" thus refers to the act of waving cloth banners and was, at most, a stage name.