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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« Prefectural Office • Shinagawa Station »

In this dramatized studio photograph of five women, the photographer has attempted to show how Japanese meals were prepared in late 19th century Japan. They are surrounded by a variety of traditional Japanese kitchen tools.

The woman on the left is grinding sesame seeds or mashing miso in an earthenware suribachi (すり鉢, mortar). The woman standing next to her is holding a kettle for boiling water.

The woman in the middle is slicing daikon on a wooden mainata (まな板) cutting board. The woman next to her is apparently fanning a coal fire in a hibachi (火鉢), heating a pot of tea. The woman standing on the right is carrying a teoke (手桶), a wooden bucket with a handle.

Two women are wearing hokkaburi (頬っ被り) headwear. Japanese hairstyles were extremely elaborate and contained a lot of wax. Housewives and working women used the hokkaburi to protect their hair from dust and dirt while working. Usually tenugui (手拭い) were used.

Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Unknown
Medium: Albumen Print
Image Number 80129-0049

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Posted by Kjeld Duits • 2018-09-17

« Prefectural Office • Shinagawa Station »

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