help save Japan’s visual heritage of daily life

71006-0006 - Motomachi Itchome, Kobe, 1910s

Kobe 1910s
Motomachi Itchome

Artist	Unknown
Publisher	Unknown
Medium	Postcard
Period	Meiji
Location	Kobe
Image No.	71006-0006
Purchase	Digital File
Author	Kjeld Duits

Shops and rickshaws at Motomachi Itchome in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture Japan.

The shop with the elephant is Zouki. It was established in 1875 (Meiji 8) by Kihei Sodeoka. Sodeoka was a ronin, a former samurai, from Satsuma.

Sodeoka left Satsuma and started an ivory business in Kyoto. His shop in Kyoto burned down in 1868 (Meiji 1) during the Boshin War (1868-1869) and he eventually moved to Kobe where he started a new business.

The name of his shop was derived from the Japanese word for ivory (zouge) and his first name (Kihei).¹

Besides selling ivory, Zouki also sold import goods and was among the first distributors of the Asahi Shimbun when it was launched in 1879 (Meiji 12). Newspapers at this time were not delivered to subscribers, but sold in stores.

As a shop of import goods, Zouki played an important role in Kobe. It was for example the first shop to sell bicycles in this town.

Being a former samurai, Sodeoka appears to not have been really cut out to be a businessman. Samurai were proud people and Sodeoka was no exception. It is said that when customers asked for a discount, he would angrily tell them to leave his shop.

see current map

Notes

¹ Yasui, Yujiro (2007). Shiru Chikara: Kobe Motomachidori de yomu no sho. Ashiya: Japan Memory, 37, 171, 174. ISBN 978-4-8354-8080-0

Published March 4, 2008
Updated December 10, 2021 11:19 PM

Reader Supported

Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage and to bring the experiences of everyday life in old Japan to you.

To enhance our understanding of Japanese culture and society I track down, acquire, archive, and research images of everyday life, and give them context.

I share what I have found for free on this site, without ads or selling your data.

Your support helps me to continue doing so, and ensures that this exceptional visual heritage will not be lost and forgotten.

Thank you,
Kjeld Duits

support

Reference for Citations

Duits, Kjeld (December 10, 2021). Kobe 1910s: Motomachi Itchome, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on December 6, 2024 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/59/motomachi-itchome

Explore More

Tokyo 1934
Traffic in Nihonbashi

Cars and street cars on Chuodori in Nihonbashi in May 1934. The photographer took this photo from the intersection of Chuodori and Eitai-dori (永代道り).

Tokyo 1890s
Nihonbashi Fishmarket

Boats are docked at the fish market in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district. Until 1923, Nihonbashi housed a colorful and busy fish market, right next to the famous Nihonbashi Bridge.

Tokyo 1934
Asakusa Nakamise

This photo of a crowd walking past shops along the approach to the Buddhist temple Senso-ji was taken some time in May 1934. Notable is that while most men and even the children already wear Western clothing, the women still wear kimono.

Add Comment

There are currently no comments on this article.

Kobe 1910sMotomachi Itchome