OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN, a photo blog of Japan in the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods

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shows photos of Japan between the 1860s and 1930s. In 1854, Japan opened its doors to the outside world for the first time in more than 200 years. It set in motion a truly astounding transformation. As fate would have it, photography had just been invented. As the old country vanished and a new one was born, daring photographers took photos. Discover what life was like with their rare and precious photographs of old Japan.

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Unbeaten Tracks in Japan • Isabella L. Bird
Unbeaten Tracks in Japan

In 1878, just 19 years after Japan opened it first ports to the world, and a mere ten years after the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, an adventurous 47-year old woman from the UK set out to explore the interior of Japan. The country was virtually unknown to Westerners, and a woman traveling only with a guide seemed outrageous. Everybody advised her not to, but she went anyway and wrote this unique and vivid journal of what she saw and experienced.


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Basket and Broom Peddler # 70601-0018
1890s • Basket and Broom Peddler
Meiji • •
Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami
Farmer with Loaded Horse # 70601-0021
1890s • Farmer with Loaded Horse
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Two Japanese Women Feeding Silk Worms # 70314-0020
1904 • Feeding Silk Worms
Meiji • •
Julian Cochrane • Glass Slide • Keystone View Company
Japanese Lantern Craftsman # 70219-0018
1890s • Lantern Craftsman
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Fire Fighting Drill # 70201-0006
1920s • Fire Drill
Taisho • •
Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown
Ainu # 80201-0053
1920s • Ainu Carving Wood
Taisho • •
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Japanese Doctor in Meiji Period # 70219-0021
1890s • Doctor Taking Pulse
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Ainu Fishermen in Log Boats # 71009-0006
1900s • Ainu Fishermen
Meiji • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • H.C. White
Men at Work in Front of Nijubashi, Imperial Palace, Tokyo # 70822-0003
Tokyo 1890s • Nijubashi, Imperial Palace
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Bronze Ware Craftsman N. Nogawa, Kyoto # 71005-0005
Kyoto 1890s • Bronze Ware Craftsmen
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Kago Bearers and Customer Taking a Break # 70606-0004
1890s • Kago Bearers Taking a Break
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Women Washing Clothes in Small Tubs at Public Washing Place in Kamakura, Japan (1930). # 80122-0008
1930 • Washing Clothes
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Japanese Acrobats # 70512-0011
1890s • Kakubeijishi
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Japanese Bamboo Basket Factory # 70330-0016
1904 • Bamboo Basket Factory
Meiji • •
Julian Cochrane • Glass Slide • Keystone View Company