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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12/31/2026 (Thursday)

Unbeaten Tracks in Japan • Isabella L. Bird

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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« Family in Formal Wear • Yoshiwara Prostitutes »

Tags: Studio Chidori • Taisho • Studio • People • Weddings
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Ceremonial Taisho era photo of a family in formal wear for family members’ fiftieth wedding anniversary (金婚記念, kinkon kinen). This photo comes from an album with 9 photographs. The accordion type album is covered in beautiful green textile stamped with golden characters that read kinkon kinen.

On the first page is a photo of a text written in graceful calligraphy followed by a photograph of an elderly couple, very clearly the couple that is celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. In the following pages are photographs of their children and grandchildren, including this one. Most probably each family shown in the photographs received one of these little albums.

An interesting detail is the subtitle printed below kinkon kinen. It reads Album of Turtle and Crane, expressing the family’s wish for a long life.

A charming window into this family’s celebration of an important event.

Map not available

Photographer: Studio Chidori
Publisher: Studio Chidori
Medium: Silver Gelatin Print
Image Number: 70126-0025
Quote this number when you contact us about licensing this image

Thumbnail URL: http://oldphotosjapan.com/images/41t.jpg

Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2008-04-21

« Family in Formal Wear • Yoshiwara Prostitutes »

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