Entertainment for the children was not forgotten during the New Year celebrations of the Meiji Period (1868-1912).
While most of the other customs in this series are still observed, this one seems to have vanished.
This image is part of The New Year in Japan, a book published by Kobe-based photographer Kozaburo Tamamura in 1906. Original text1:
Here is another attraction for the special entertainment of ‘Young’ Japan; it is ridiculous to the adult eye, but we ourselves were young at one time!
See all New Year images on Old Photos of Japan.
Notes
1 Tamamura, Kozaburo (1906). The New Year in Japan. Tamamura Shashinkan.
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Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage and to bring the experiences of everyday life in old Japan to you.
To enhance our understanding of Japanese culture and society I track down, acquire, archive, and research images of everyday life, and give them context.
I share what I have found for free on this site, without ads or selling your data.
Your support helps me to continue doing so, and ensures that this exceptional visual heritage will not be lost and forgotten.
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Kjeld Duits
Reference for Citations
Duits, Kjeld (). Kobe, 1906: New Year Celebrations 14, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on January 7, 2026 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/669/new-year-celebrations-14
Emil
The other mascot looks like spongebob.
#000398 ·
Kjeld Duits (Author)
@ Emil : Haha, I never noticed that!
#000403 ·