Final answer:
In the Showa period, the type of music that was famous in bars and clubs encompassed traditional Japanese music linked to kabuki and pleasure quarters, as well as jazz and other Western influences in the later years.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Showa period, which covers the reign of Emperor Hirohito from 1926 to 1989, the type of music famous in bars and clubs evolved over the years. However, if we focus on the particular era within the Showa period that parallels the peak of the pleasure quarters in cities like Edo (modern-day Tokyo), the popular entertainment included traditional forms such as the music accompanying kabuki theater, performances by geishas, and various forms of dance. Furthermore, in the Showa period during the wartime years, entertainment was heavily influenced by government regulations and the war effort, which restricted some frivolous activities but allowed movie houses to remain open featuring pro-war and propagandistic themes.
The Showa period also saw a growth in arts and entertainment among the common people (chōnin). These entertainment forms included traditional Japanese instruments like the shamisen and taiko drums, which were likely played in pleasure quarters, enhancing the atmosphere of bars and clubs. Later in the period, western influences began to appear, and by mid-century, jazz and other Western forms of music became increasingly popular in urban entertainment venues.