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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« New Year Celebrations 10 • New Year Celebrations 8 »

The first meal of the year, includes a soup called zoni, which features mochi, seen being made in New Year Celebrations 2. This image is part of The New Year in Japan, a book published by Kobe-based photographer Kozaburo Tamamura in 1906. Original text:

This illustration is a general representation of every family in Japan, partaking of the ceremonial breakfast, the members of the family congratulating each other, and “toasting” each other in cups of zoni, a beverage made from mochi (boiled rice dough) and this ceremony is repeated until the third day of the New Year.¹

See all New Year images on Old Photos of Japan.

Notes

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

Photographer: Kozaburo Tamamura
Publisher: Kozaburo Tamamura
Medium: Collotype Print
Image Number 80115-0033

Quote this number when you contact us about licensing this image.
You can also licence this image online: 80115-0033 @ MeijiShowa.com.

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Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2009-01-01

« New Year Celebrations 10 • New Year Celebrations 8 »

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