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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12/31/2009 (Thursday)

Samurai: An Illustrated History • Mitsuo Kure

A chronological coverage of samurai history detailing the main battles, personnel, weaponry and fortifications. Line drawings of fortifications and armor, and photographs of battle re-enactments conducted by historical re-enactment societies bring the battles back to life.

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Tags: Unknown • Meiji • Kobe • Railways • Transport
Tools: e-card • map • license photo • license text • bookmark this

A steam locomotive pushes wagons on the Tokaido railway line. The photographer was standing on Aioibashi (Aioi Bridge), a railway overpass, looking east with his back towards Kobe Station. The railroad connection between Kobe and Osaka was opened in May 1874. It took 70 minutes to travel the 32.7 kilometer route. Today it is a little over 20 minutes. In 1876, the line was extended to Kyoto and by 1889 passengers could travel between Kobe and Shinbashi Station in Tokyo. Aioibashi connected Motomachidori, a major shopping street, with Tamondori, location of Minatogawa Jinja, one of the most important shinto shrines in Kobe.¹

The railroad connection between Kobe and Osaka offered engineers a lot of challenges, which created a whole string of firsts for Japan. The first railroad tunnels below rivers were made; under Sumiyoshigawa and Ashiyagawa. The word tunnel was actually first used in Japan for the Ashiyagawa tunnel, which was such an engineering feat that even The Illustrated London News mentioned it. Several iron railroad bridges were also laid, to cross the rivers Mukogawa, Kanzakigawa and Jusogawa.

A view on the bridge itself.

Not only the train tracks and steam locomotive are of interest on this photo. It also gives a good impression of a typical street in Kobe. The corner house on the left stood on Tamondori 1-chome and for a long time featured a shop selling cotton. Many more shops can be seen along the railroad line. In the curve of the railroad was the location of Zenpukuji (善福寺), a temple of the Jodo Sect Honganji Branch of Buddhism. Its roof can be seen through the steam of the locomotive, right above the cabby. Almost right between Aioibashi and the temple, the tracks crossed the Ujigawa (Uji River). These days, this river flows underground in this area. It actually disappears underground close to Kobe Central Library, where I do much of the research for the photographs on this site.

The many people walking on wooden geta, a substantial number of them pushing carts, and the sounds of the passing trains must have made this corner of Kobe quite a noisy one, comparable to the noise of the nearby harbor.

Another view of the area taken from the same location.

1891 (Meiji 24) Map of Kobe: 1. Ujigawa (宇治川); 2. Tokaido Railroad; 3. Motomachidori; 4. Kaigandori; 5. Kobe Port; 6. Minatogawa Jinja; 7. Aioibashi (相生橋); 8. Tamondori (多聞通); 9. Kobe Station.

¹ Metadata database of Japanese old photographs in Bakumatsu-Meiji Period, Train Tracks near Kobe Station (1): Looking East from Aioi Bridge (Kobe). Retrieved on 2008-07-20.

Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Ueda
Medium: Postcard
Image Number: 70330-0021
Quote this number when you contact us about licensing this image

Thumbnail URL: http://oldphotosjapan.com/images/118t.jpg

Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2008-07-20

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