Old Photos of Japan
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Spotlight • Smoking the Kiseru
Read this article on the site | Comment on this article “If we didn’t all smoke a pipe, if it were not for tobacco, we would never get along together…
Kjeld Duits
Mar 10
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Spotlight • Smoking the Kiseru
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February 2023
Studio, 1880s • The Way of the Kiseru
A Japanese farmer holds a kiseru (煙管). The tiny pipe offered only two to three puffs, yet it reigned for over three centuries.
Kjeld Duits
Feb 28
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Studio, 1880s • The Way of the Kiseru
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December 2022
1900s • "The New Year in Japan"
A woman paints the face of a boy who lost in the card game of karuta. Photographer Teijiro Takagi shot this scene in Kobe in 1906 for a photo book about…
Kjeld Duits
Dec 29, 2022
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1900s • "The New Year in Japan"
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November 2022
Nagasaki, 1865 • Dejima Island
A rare early photograph of Dejima, the fan-shaped artificial island in Nagasaki. Dejima played a critical—but now largely forgotten—role in the opening…
Kjeld Duits
Nov 10, 2022
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Nagasaki, 1865 • Dejima Island
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August 2022
1890s • Selling Insect Musicians
A studio photo of maiko posing in front of the portable street stand of a singing insect vendor. Vendors sold a variety of insects changing with each…
Kjeld Duits
Aug 30, 2022
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1890s • Selling Insect Musicians
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July 2022
1900s • "The Ceremonies of a Japanese marriage"
A Japanese bride arrives at the groom’s house. Photographer Teijiro Takagi published this scene in 1905 (Meiji 38) in a photo book about Japanese…
Kjeld Duits
Jul 31, 2022
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1900s • "The Ceremonies of a Japanese marriage"
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June 2022
1930s • Off To War
A Japanese family poses stoically to “celebrate” a male family member being sent off to war during the late 1930s, or early 1940s. The banners bear his…
Kjeld Duits
Jun 27, 2022
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1930s • Off To War
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May 2022
1910s • Headman, Hunter, Fox
The game that these two young women are playing was once the most popular game in Japan, known by all. Now few people have even heard of its name.
Kjeld Duits
May 31, 2022
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1910s • Headman, Hunter, Fox
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1920s • Geta and Zori Shop
A small geta and zori shop. The shopkeeper is working on a geta while a customer is looking on. Shops like these were once everywhere in Japan.
Kjeld Duits
May 15, 2022
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1920s • Geta and Zori Shop
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The "Human Horses" of the Rickshaw
The rickshaw’s story is one of promise, romance, and pain. Did you know that the rickshaw contributed to Japan driving on the left side of the road?
Kjeld Duits
May 6, 2022
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The "Human Horses" of the Rickshaw
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April 2022
Beauties of the Bath
Japan’s bathing culture is considered quintessentially Japanese. No guide book of Japan is complete without instructions on how to take a bath. A short…
Kjeld Duits
Apr 19, 2022
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Beauties of the Bath
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1863 Tokyo • Ruins of the American Legation
I almost sold this print because it seemed insignificant. Thankfully, a book by Dutch historian Herman J. Moeshart helped me realize it is an extremely…
Kjeld Duits
Apr 8, 2022
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1863 Tokyo • Ruins of the American Legation
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