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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)
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
Customs
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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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# 70302-0010 Okayama 1935 • School Girls Eating Bento Showa • Customs • Women Unknown • Silver Gelatin Print • Yusa Studio |
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# 70512-0015 1890s • Making Tatami Meiji • At Work • Customs Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70606-0008 1890s • Two Half-Nude Women Meiji • Customs • Women Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70606-0009 1900s • Theater Performance Meiji • At Work • Customs Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70613-0003 1890s • Women Practicing Ikebana Meiji • Customs • Women Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70613-0007 1890s • Having a Party Meiji • Customs • People Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • J B Millet Company |
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# 70614-0004 1890s • Woman Writing with Brush Meiji • Customs • Women Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70614-0011 1890s • Japanese Footwear Meiji • Customs Unknown • Albumen Print • 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.
@Noel: You have amazing eyes, Noel. Without you attracting my attention to the location of the …
As I have that photo in my digital archive it spiked my interest, so I …
@Paula Jeannet: Fascinating. There is an image of Amidabashi Bridge in the Kimbei catalogue, but it …
This image of Amidabashi Bridge is found in a photograph album that appears to be …
@Noel Yes, having that collection will be very helpful. Thanks for the link to Rob’s page …