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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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MeijiShowa
License all the photos on this site at our boutique photo agency for vintage photographs, illustrations and maps of Japan between the 1860s and 1930s (Meiji, Taisho, early Showa)
About
Periods
Themes
Ainu
At Work
Bridges
Buildings
Castles
Children
City Views
Customs
Disasters
Hotels
New Year
People
Prostitution
Railways
Religious
Rural
Scenic Views
Shops
Temples & Shrines
Tokaido
Transport
Weddings
Women
At Work
Bridges
Buildings
Castles
Children
City Views
Customs
Disasters
Hotels
New Year
People
Prostitution
Railways
Religious
Rural
Scenic Views
Shops
Temples & Shrines
Tokaido
Transport
Weddings
Women
Places
Arashiyama
Arima
Beppu
Enoshima
Hakone
Himeji
Hiroshima
Inside
Kinosaki
Kobe
Kyoto
Miyajima
Mount Fuji
Nagasaki
Nagoya
Nara
Nikko
Okayama
Osaka
Outside
Shikoku
Studio
Tokaido
Tokyo
Utsunomiya
Yokohama
Arima
Beppu
Enoshima
Hakone
Himeji
Hiroshima
Inside
Kinosaki
Kobe
Kyoto
Miyajima
Mount Fuji
Nagasaki
Nagoya
Nara
Nikko
Okayama
Osaka
Outside
Shikoku
Studio
Tokaido
Tokyo
Utsunomiya
Yokohama
Photographers
Silver Gelatin Print
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# 80124-0003 Tokyo 1920s • Toyama Firing Range Showa • Buildings Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown |
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# 80128-0016 1930s • Modern Woman Showa • Women Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown |
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# 80130-0002 1930s • Kimono, but Modern Hairstyle Showa • Women T.G. Ariga • Silver Gelatin Print • T.G. Ariga |
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# 80130-0006 1930s • Woman in White Dress Showa • Women Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown |
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# 70201-0006 1920s • Fire Drill Taisho • At Work • People Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown |
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# 70223-0002 1920s • Bride and Groom Showa • Customs • Weddings Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown |
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# 70201-0004 1920s • Bride and Groom Taisho • People • Weddings Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown |
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# 70302-0002 Okayama 1935 • Playing Toryanse Showa • Customs • Women Yusa Studio • Silver Gelatin Print • Yusa Studio |
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# 70302-0003 Okayama 1935 • Practicing Table Tennis Showa • Customs • Women Yusa Studio • Silver Gelatin Print • Yusa Studio |
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# 70302-0005 Okayama 1935 • Practicing Kyudo Showa • Customs • Women Yusa Studio • Silver Gelatin Print • Yusa Studio |
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# 70302-0006 Okayama 1935 • Practicing Naginata Showa • Customs • Women Yusa Studio • Silver Gelatin Print • Yusa Studio |
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# 70302-0007 Okayama 1935 • Practicing Naginata Showa • Customs • Women Yusa Studio • Silver Gelatin Print • Yusa Studio |
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# 70302-0008 Okayama 1935 • School Girls Reading Showa • Customs • Women Yusa Studio • Silver Gelatin Print • Yusa Studio |
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# 70302-0011 Okayama 1935 • Girls in a Classroom Showa • Customs • Women Yusa Studio • Silver Gelatin Print • Yusa Studio |
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OldPhotosJapan.com — a photo blog about old Japan that reads like a book and works like an archive. All the photographs are from the Kjeld Duits Collection and available for licensing at MeijiShowa.com. Use when you need historical photos, maps or illustrations of Japan for your newspaper article, book, documentary, advertising or other project. For questions, contact us.
Hi there - I’d like to request permission to use this photo in an 6-month exhibition …
Hello I have 8 early (1880’s?) Japanese colour air brushed photos of supposedly my great …
Hi Eric, Fascinating. Do you still have photographs of Yokohama of that period?
Our address in Yokohama was 91 Sannotani, just up the street from the Sannotani streetcar …
You are right, Noel! How did that slip in?