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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
Taisho
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# 70301-0020 Kobe 1910s • Kobe City Hall Taisho • Buildings • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Kobe City Hall |
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# 70216-0042 Nagasaki 1910s • Taking on Coal Taisho • At Work • Transport Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 70206-0006 Yokohama 1910s • Yokohama Pier Taisho • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 71203-0013 Osaka 1920s • Shinsaibashi Bridge Taisho • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80220-0006 Osaka 1910s • Shinsaibashi Bridge Taisho • Bridges • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80201-0048 1920s • Ainu Playing the Mukkuri Taisho • Ainu • Customs Unknown • Postcard • Taisho Hato |
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# 70201-0006 1920s • Fire Drill Taisho • At Work • People Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Unknown |
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# 80201-0049 1920s • Ainu Women Using Mortar Taisho • Ainu • Women S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80201-0055 1920s • Ainu Mother & Child Taisho • Ainu • Women S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Utsunomiya |
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# 80201-0053 1920s • Ainu Carving Wood Taisho • Ainu • At Work S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80201-0051 1920s • Ainu Woman Carrying Wood Taisho • Ainu • Women S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 80201-0054 1920s • Ainu with Boat Taisho • Ainu • Rural S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 70216-0058 Osaka 1920s • Osaka City Hall Taisho • Buildings • City Views Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 70518-0030 Tokyo, 1920s • Dezome-shiki Taisho • Customs • New Year Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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?