OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN, a photo blog of Japan in the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods

Old Photos of Japan
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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Recent Comments  
  • Kjeld Duits (Shamisen Craftsman)

    @Jim Clinefelter Thanks, Jim. I love it when photographers leave their name card like that! Yamamoto’s studio …

  • Jim Clinefelter (Shamisen Craftsman)

    The clue to who took this image is the kanji on the man’s haori, 寫山茂堂 …

  • Kjeld Duits (阿弥陀橋)

    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。

  • Kjeld Duits (阿弥陀橋)

    高橋様 「OLD PHOTOS OF JAPAN」のドゥイツです。ご案内誠にありがとうございます。 高橋様の情報を追加致しました。

  • 高橋信一 (阿弥陀橋)

    この長崎の写真は明治６年に内田九一が撮影したものです。国際日本文化研究センター所蔵の内田写真館のアルバムYA033に他の九一の写真といっしょに入っています。

Good Book Tip
A Career of Japan: Baron Raimund Von Stillfried and Early Yokohama Photography • Luke Gartlan

A Career of Japan is the first study of one of the major photographers and personalities of nineteenth-century Japan. Baron Raimund von Stillfried was the most important foreign-born photographer of the Meiji era and one of the first globally active photographers of his generation. He played a key role in the international image of Japan and the adoption of photography within Japanese society itself.


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Osaka

View on Dotonbori Canal, Osaka # 70822-0002
Osaka 1890s • Dotonbori Canal
Meiji • City Views
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Steam Train Arriving at Osaka Station # 70209-0029
Osaka 1930s • Osaka Station
Showa • Railways • Transport
Unknown • Postcard • Taisho Hato
Naniwa Bridge, Osaka # 70523-0014
Osaka 1880s • Naniwa Bridge
Meiji • Bridges • City Views
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Midosuji Subway in Osaka under Construction # 70808-0015
Osaka 1930s • Digging Midosuji Subway
Showa • City Views • Transport
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Panoramic View on Osaka # 71205-0005
Osaka 1880s • View on Tennoji
Meiji • City Views • Scenic Views
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Naniwabashi, Osaka # 70122-0015
Osaka 1930s • Naniwa Bridge
Showa • Bridges • City Views
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Nakanoshima, Osaka # 70116-0007
Osaka 1930s • Nakanoshima Park
Showa • Bridges • City Views
Unknown • Postcard • Taisho Hato
Matsushima Brothel District, Osaka # 80115-0023
Osaka 1880s • Matsushima Brothels
Meiji • City Views • Prostitution
Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown
Dotonbori Theater Street, Osaka # 70621-0005
Osaka 1890s • Dotonbori Theater Street
Meiji • City Views
Kozaburo Tamamura • Albumen Print • Kozaburo Tamamura
Dotonbori Canal and Ebisubashi Bridge, Osaka (Photo by Adolfo Farsari) # 80115-0024
Osaka 1880s • Dotonbori Canal
Meiji • Bridges • City Views
Adolfo Farsari • Albumen Print • Adolfo Farsari
Tobita, Osaka # 71203-0014
Osaka 1920s • Tobita Red Light District
Taisho • Prostitution • City Views
Unknown • Postcard • Unknown
Ebisubashi Bridge, Osaka # 70416-0003
Osaka 1890s • Ebisubashi Bridge
Meiji • City Views • Bridges
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
Osaka 1880s: Shitennoji Temple # 70319-0005
Osaka 1890s • Shitennoji Temple
Meiji • Temples & Shrines • Buildings
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
Osaka 1880s: Shinsaibashi Bridge # 70319-0007
Osaka 1890s • Shinsaibashi Bridge
Meiji • City Views • Bridges
Kimbei Kusakabe • Albumen Print • Kimbei Kusakabe
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