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

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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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  • Kjeld Duits

    @ Emil : Haha, I never noticed that!

  • Emil

    The other mascot looks like spongebob.

Good Book Tip
Felice Beato: A Photographer on the Eastern Road • Anne Lacoste, Fred Ritchin

Felice Beato (1832–1909) lived and worked in Japan from 1863 through 1884, just as the country opened its doors to the world. He was extremely active in Japan, and portrayed the Japanese with dignity and as equals of Westerners. He was the first photographer in Japan to sell albums of his works. Most likely, it was Beato that introduced the later so diligently followed concept of “views” and “types” to photography of Japan.


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Kobe, 1906 • New Year Celebrations 14

New Year Celebrations

Entertainment for the children was not forgotten during the New Year celebrations of the Meiji Period (1868-1912). While most of the other customs in this series are still observed, this scene seems to have vanished. This image is part of The New Year in Japan, a book published by Kobe-based photographer Kozaburo Tamamura in 1906. Original text:

Here is another attraction for the special entertainment of “Young” Japan; it is ridiculous to the adult eye, but we ourselves were young at one time!1

See all New Year images on Old Photos of Japan.

1 Tamamura, Kozaburo (1906). The New Year in Japan. Tamamura Shashinkan.

Photographer: Kozaburo Tamamura
Publisher: Kozaburo Tamamura
Medium: Collotype Print
Image Number 80115-0038

Quote this number when you contact us about licensing this image.
You can also licence this image online: 80115-0038 @ MeijiShowa.com.

IMPORTANT
Usage of this image requires a reproduction fee.
Reference for Citations

Duits, K. (2009, January 1). Kobe, 1906 • New Year Celebrations 14, Old Photos of Japan. Retrieved on 2020, May 25 from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/669/new-year-celebrations-14

Posted by • 2009-01-01
Add Comment

The other mascot looks like spongebob.

#000398 · Emil · 2009-06-25

@ Emil : Haha, I never noticed that!

#000403 · Kjeld Duits (author) · 2009-07-01








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