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

English
日本語

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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Recent Comments

Kjeld Duits (Women Practicing Ikebana)
@Sonoko What wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing them with us!
Sonoko (Women Practicing Ikebana)
My uncle is the son of Seisaburo. His daughter (my cousin) was a shamisen player. …
JAURENA (Saving Battleship Mikasa)
Bonjour, Magnifique ! Un travail long et minutieux. Un site conçu avec TXP. 勇ましい
Kjeld Duits (Shinsaibashi Bridge)
@Kim The white building is the Ishihara Tokeiten (石原時計店). This was a well-known retailer of watches …
Kim (Shinsaibashi Bridge)
What is the tall building?

Good Book Tip

Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914: Engineering Triumphs That Transformed Meiji-era Japan • Dan Free

Early Japanese Railways 1853-1914 is a cultural and engineering history of railway building in Japan during the Meiji era. The 19th century was the first age of sustained, comprehensive contact between Asia and the West. This book describes the history of Japanese social adaptation to railway development, with many details never-before-published in English.

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License any photo!

MeijiShowa
License all the photos on this site at our boutique photo agency for vintage photographs, illustrations and maps of Japan between the 1860s and 1930s (Meiji, Taisho, early Showa)

Periods

Meiji (1868-1912)
Taisho (1912-1926)
Showa (1926-1989)

Themes