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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01/01/2027 (Friday)

Ainu: Spirit of a Northern People • William W. Fitzhugh et al

Japan’s indigenous people, the Ainu, inhabited Hokkaido, the Kurile Islands, southern Sakhalin Island, and a portion of northern Honshu. They had a unique culture and language, completely separate from that of the Japanese. By the middle of the 19th century, the destruction of this ancient culture was set in motion by Japan’s national government.

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« Dezome-shiki • Dezome-shiki »

Tags: Unknown • Taisho • Tokyo • Customs • New Year
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Firefighters in happi coats perform acrobatic stunts on top of bamboo ladders. The ladder stunts were the main event of Japanese New Year celebrations. The demonstrations, called dezome-shiki, were intended to warn people of the dangers of fire, and to demonstrate the agility and courage of the firefighters. For detailed information about fires in Japan, read Yokohama, 1890s • Dezome-shiki.

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Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Unknown
Medium: Postcard
Image Number: 70518-0030
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Thumbnail URL: http://oldphotosjapan.com/images/498t.jpg

Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2009-01-04

« Dezome-shiki • Dezome-shiki »

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