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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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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Tags: Kimbei Kusakabe • Meiji • Osaka • City Views • Bridges
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Ebisubashi (Ebisu bridge) in Osaka, Japan. View towards North Osaka, taken from the current location of the Kanidoraku crab restaurant. The large buildings on the horizon are the Buddhist temples Kita Mido and Minami Mido.

The bridge was apparently named Ebisubashi because of its location on the road to Imamiya Ebisu Jinja, a very popular shrine for business people in Osaka.

Ebisu happened to be a derogatory term for foreigner in the mid 19th century. The country having just opened its doors to foreigners, the bridge’s name was changed to Eiseibashi in 1867 (Keio 3). This Political Correctness avant la lettre didn’t last long. Only three years later the original name was restored.¹

Walking straight down the street across from the bridge you will eventually reach Shinsaibashi.

For another view of Ebisubashi, taken from a location on the left side of this photograph, see Dotonbori Canal.

1877 (Meiji 10) Map of Osaka: 1. Nagahori; 2. Shinsaibashi; 3. Dotonbori; 4. Ebisubashi

¹ Nagasaki University Library, Database of Old Photographs of Japan. Retrieved on 2008-02-16.

Photographer: Kimbei Kusakabe
Publisher: Kimbei Kusakabe
Medium: Albumen Print
Image Number: 70416-0003
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Thumbnail URL: http://oldphotosjapan.com/images/6t.jpg

Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2007-11-21

« Woman in Kago • Kamo River »

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