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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
Outside
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# 80129-0019 1890s • Broom Vendor Meiji • At Work Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70601-0018 1890s • Basket and Broom Peddler Meiji • At Work • People Nobukuni Enami • Albumen Print • Nobukuni Enami |
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# 70601-0021 1890s • Farmer with Loaded Horse Meiji • At Work • Transport Unknown • Albumen Print • Unknown |
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# 70820-0011 1890s • Temizu Meiji • Customs • Women Reiji Esaki • Albumen Print • Reiji Esaki |
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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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# 80717-0015 1900s • Ainu Family Meiji • Ainu • Children Unknown • Glass Slide • Unknown |
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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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# 70221-0018 1930s • Pet Bird Shop Showa • Customs • Shops Unknown • Postcard • Unknown |
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# 71009-0006 1900s • Ainu Fishermen Meiji • Ainu • At Work Unknown • Glass Slide • H.C. White |
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 …