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 4 • New Year Celebrations 2 »

Bamboo decorations herald the coming of the New Year. This image is part of The New Year in Japan, a book published by Kobe-based photographer Kozaburo Tamamura in 1906. Original text:

bamboo poles are to be seen, erected on the eaves of various shops, to remind one of the Toshino-ichi¹ (the New Year’s Fair), which is now in progress. The shops are also decorated in Christmas style, for the purpose of supplying foreign residents with a;; they may need for the festive Xmas season. The Japanese wives may be seen hurrying here and there to obtain geta (Japanese wooden footgear), and many other items necessary for the family to bloom forth in fresh raiment on New Year’s Day.²

See all New Year images on Old Photos of Japan.

¹ Toshi-no-ichi (year-end-market)

² Tamamura, Kozaburo (1906). The New Year in Japan. Tamamura Shashinkan.

Photographer: Kozaburo Tamamura
Publisher: Kozaburo Tamamura
Medium: Collotype Print
Image Number 80115-0027

Quote this number when you contact us about licensing this image.
You can also licence this image online: 80115-0027 @ MeijiShowa.com.

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Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2009-01-01

« New Year Celebrations 4 • New Year Celebrations 2 »

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