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

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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Temples & Shrines

Asakusa Nakamise # 61228-0002
Tokyo 1920s • Asakusa Nakamise
Showa • •
Unknown • Postcard • Seikaido
Asakuse Nakamise # 80131-0022
Tokyo 1910s • Asakusa Nakamise
Meiji • •
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Japan. Tokyo. Approach to Asakusa Park and Temple, Toy and Curio Shops (May 1934). # 80121-0011
Tokyo 1934 • Asakusa Nakamise
Showa • •
Unknown • Glass Slide • New York State Education Department
View on Harbor in Nagasaki # 70208-0011
Nagasaki 1880s • Ebisu Shrine and Harbor
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Pagoda at Kiyomizu, Kyoto # 70208-0010
Kyoto 1890s • Pagoda at Kiyomizu
Meiji • •
Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami
Kiyomizudera in Kyoto # 70602-0014
Kyoto 1880s • Kiyomizudera
Meiji • •
Reiji Esaki • Albumen Print • Reiji Esaki
Yasaka Pagoda, Kyoto # 70419-0006
Kyoto 1910s • Yasaka Pagoda
Meiji • •
Unknown • Postcard • Tomboya
Tea Plantation and Toji Pagoda, Kyoto # 80115-0008
Kyoto 1890s • Tea Field and Toji Pagoda
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Sanmon Gate at Chionin, Kyoto # 70621-0011
Kyoto 1890s • San-mon Gate at Chionin
Meiji • •
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Osaka 1880s: Shitennoji Temple # 70319-0005
Osaka 1890s • Shitennoji Temple
Meiji • •
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe