Ponta and Oen were popular Geisha during the 1890s and early 1900s. Many of these images were taken between 1895-1897 at Genrokukan Studio in Tokyo, run by Kajima Seibei (who became Ponta’s husband) and his brother, Seizaburo (Oen’s partner at the time).
Most of these images are from postcards published in Japan and the USA between 1900-1918. The majority of them are hand-colored collotypes.
“Teaching Songs”, photo by Kajima Seibei, taken at his Genrokukan Studio, Tokyo, circa 1895-96. Geisha Ponta is seated at right
Geisha Oen and friend, photo taken at Kajima Seibei’s Genrokukan Studio in Tokyo, 1895-97
Geisha Oen and friend, photo taken at Kajima Seibei’s Genrokukan Studio in Tokyo, 1895-97
Geisha Oen and Ponta with a kakejiku (scroll), photo taken at Kajima Seibei’s Genrokukan Studio in Tokyo, 1895-97
Geisha Oen with a drum, photo probably by Kajima Seibei at his Genrokukan Studio in Tokyo, circa 1895
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