- English
- 日本語
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.
About
Good Book Tip
Photography in Japan 1853-1912 • Terry Bennett
Terry Bennett has been researching 19th century Japanese photography for over 25 years. In this masterpiece he tells us the story of photography in Japan, using 350 rare images. All the known photographers are introduced with details that you will have trouble finding anywhere else. THE best book about early Japanese photography.
Read Full Article
Buy now at Amazon!
More book tips
License any photo!
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)
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
Ainu
|
# 80201-0048 1920s • Ainu Playing the Mukkuri Taisho • Ainu • Customs Unknown • Postcard • Taisho Hato |
|
# 80201-0047 1900s • Ainu Chief Meiji • Ainu • People Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
|
# 80626-0012 1880s • Ainu Man Meiji • Ainu • People Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
|
# 80201-0049 1920s • Ainu Women Using Mortar Taisho • Ainu • Women S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Unknown |
|
# 80201-0055 1920s • Ainu Mother & Child Taisho • Ainu • Women S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Utsunomiya |
|
# 80717-0015 1900s • Ainu Family Meiji • Ainu • Children Unknown • Glass Slide • Unknown |
|
# 80201-0053 1920s • Ainu Carving Wood Taisho • Ainu • At Work S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Unknown |
|
# 80201-0051 1920s • Ainu Woman Carrying Wood Taisho • Ainu • Women S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Unknown |
|
# 80201-0054 1920s • Ainu with Boat Taisho • Ainu • Rural S. Kinoshita • Postcard • Unknown |
|
# 71009-0006 1900s • Ainu Fishermen Meiji • Ainu • At Work Unknown • Glass Slide • H.C. White |
|
# 61228-0004 1920s • Ainu Chief Showa • Ainu • People Unknown • Postcard • Ehagaki Kurabu |
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.
@Kim The white building is the Ishihara Tokeiten (石原時計店). This was a well-known retailer of watches …
What is the tall building?
@Jim Clinefelter Thanks, Jim. I love it when photographers leave their name card like that! Yamamoto’s studio …
The clue to who took this image is the kanji on the man’s haori, 寫山茂堂 …
高橋様 明治5年（1872年）、明治天皇の西国御巡幸の際、宮内省御用掛の写真師第一号として随行し、内田九一は長崎を訪れたので、日付を1872年に変更しました。