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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Art And Artifice: Japanese Photographs Of The Meiji Era • Sebastian Dobson, Anne Nishimura Morse, Frederic Sharf

A brief introduction to Meiji-era photographs and to the world in which they flourished. Three essays and dozens of images explore the social function of these photos, their remarkable artistry, and the personal stories of those who collected and preserved these images.

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1890s • Women in Travel Wear

A studio photo of two women dressed up for travel. They are holding canes and have towels wrapped around their head. Their kimonos are tied up for easier movement. The photographer has made sure that nobody can doubt the country: his backdrop shows Mount Fuji.

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Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Unknown
Medium: Albumen Print
Image Number: 80129-0023
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<a href="http://oldphotosjapan.com/en/photos/217/women-in-travel-wear">1890s • Women in Travel Wear</a>

A studio photo of two women dressed up for travel. They are holding canes and have towels wrapped around their head. Their kimonos are tied up for easier movement. The photographer has made sure that nobody can doubt the country: his backdrop shows Mount Fuji.

Thumbnail URL: http://oldphotosjapan.com/images/329t.jpg

Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2008-04-19

« Woman Carrying Charcoal • Woman Touching Hairpin »

Add Comment

This is a really interesting photo blog!

# ReallyJapan · 2008-04-21

Thanks a lot for the nice words, Ruben. I love your photos, you have a very original eye.

# Kjeld Duits · 2008-04-21

Great picture. Is this really an old picture? It looks like a modern picture taken on an old background.

# Japanese Words · 2009-04-19

It is 100% authentic, Japanese Words.

# Kjeld Duits · 2009-04-19

Japanese Words, lots of photographers in the 19th century used elaborate studio settings to create the “authentic” Japanese scenes that foreign tourists were looking for to purchase as souvenirs. They often used geisha and maiko as models.

# Kjeld Duits · 2009-05-08