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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Unbeaten Tracks in Japan • Isabella L. Bird
Unbeaten Tracks in Japan

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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Unknown

Furniture Store in Kyoto, Japan (May 1934). # 80122-0015
Kyoto 1934 • Furniture Store
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Ginza, Tokyo # 80717-0021
Tokyo, 1880s • Ginza and Kyobashi
Meiji •
Unknown • Glass Slide • Unknown
Anjincho in Nihonbashi, Tokyo # 80421-0005
Tokyo 1872 • Anjincho in Nihonbashi
Meiji •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Kunaisho # 70416-0006
Tokyo 1880s • Sakashita-mon
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Shintomiza Theater, Tokyo # 70604-0017
Tokyo 1880s • Shintomiza Theater
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Young Woman # 80128-0016
1930s • Modern Woman
Showa •
Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown
Three Women Taking a Bath # 80129-0025
Hakone 1890s • Three Women in Bath
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Women Dressing # 80129-0046
1890s • Women Dressing
Meiji •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Shinsaibashi Bridge # 71203-0013
Osaka 1920s • Shinsaibashi Bridge
Taisho • •
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Young Family "on the Road" # 70531-0028
1890s • Young Family
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
The Bund in Kobe, Japan (1930). # 80122-0013
Kobe 1930 • The Bund
Showa •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
Enokojima and Osaka City View # 80421-0009
Osaka 1870s-1880s • View from Enokojima
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Farmer with Loaded Horse # 70601-0021
1890s • Farmer with Loaded Horse
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Shinsaibashi Bridge, Osaka # 80220-0006
Osaka 1910s • Shinsaibashi Bridge
Taisho • •
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown