A woman in kimono with traditional Japanese hairstyle poses in a studio.

A young Japanese woman in kimono and traditional hairstyle is holding a handkerchief to her chin. This postcard was published sometime between 1907 and 1918. During the early 20th century, picture postcards of bijin (beautiful women) were extremely popular in Japan.

In this dramatized studio scene, a woman in kimono ostensibly walks in the rain holding on to her paper umbrella as the wind blows up the hem of her kimono. She is wearing geta and her hair is done in a traditional manner. The photographer has made sure that nobody can doubt the country: his backdrop shows Mt. Fuji.

Buddhist monks walk in procession on the grounds of Tofuku-ji, a buddhist temple in Kyoto. The writing on their bags reads Daihonzan Tofuku-ji Hondo Saiken (大本山東福寺本堂再建), “reconstruction of the hondo (main hall) of Daihonzan Tofuku-ji.” They were apparently on their way to the city to collect donations for reconstruction work on the temple.