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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11/12/2009 (Thursday) Traditional Houses and a Car in a Village on the Tokaido Highway, 20 Miles from Yokohama (1930).
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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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Transport

Ueno Park Hill, Tokyo # 71204-0006
Tokyo 1890s • Streetcar in Ueno
Meiji • •
Kazumasa Ogawa • Collotype Print • Kazumasa Ogawa
Ginza # 80626-0005
Tokyo 1880s • Ginza Streetcar
Meiji • •
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
Farmer with Loaded Horse # 70601-0021
1890s • Farmer with Loaded Horse
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Japan. Kobe. Boats and Warehouses in Port (1930). # 80122-0004
Kobe 1930 • Warehouses in Port
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Sailing Vessel and View of Fuji from Tagonoura # 70215-0004
Mount Fuji 1920s • Tagonoura, Shizuoka
Taisho • •
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Kago Bearers and Customer Taking a Break # 70606-0004
1890s • Kago Bearers Taking a Break
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Cars and Street Cars on Ginza, Tokyo (May 1934). # 80122-0006
Tokyo 1934 • Traffic in Nihonbashi
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Japan. Miyajima. Fishing Boats (1930). # 80121-0020
Miyajima 1930 • Fishing Boats
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
s.s. Malolo and other Steamers and Liners in Yokohama Harbor, Japan (October 1929). # 80121-0013
Yokohama 1929 • Ships in Port
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Street Cars at Ginza, Tokyo # 70222-0004
Tokyo 1910s • Ginza
Taisho • •
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Steam Train Arriving at Osaka Station # 70209-0029
Osaka 1930s • Osaka Station
Showa • •
Unknown • Postcard • Taisho Hato
Steam Boats at America Hatoba in Kobe # 70330-0022
Kobe 1910s • Steam Launches
Meiji • •
Unknown • Postcard • Ueda
Steam Train Passing Along Aioicho-dori in Kobe # 70330-0021
Kobe 1900s • View from Aioibashi
Meiji • •
Unknown • Postcard • Ueda
Houses and Boats at the Bund of Kobe # 70523-0002
Kobe 1880s • Houses at Bund
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown