The Incredible Survival Story of Kazuko Higa, aka the “Queen of Anatahan”
This post was originally published on this siteThe story of Kazuko Higa, often sensationalized as the “Queen of Anatahan,” is one of the most bizarre […]
Japan
John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Trip to Japan, 1979
This post was originally published on this siteIn 1979, John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent what would be their final summer together in Japan. This […]
35 Fascinating Photos Capture Everyday Life in Kyoto During the Early 20th Century
This post was originally published on this siteIn the early 20th century, everyday life in Kyoto was a beautiful tapestry of ancient customs and subtle […]
Rare Portrait Ambrotypes of Japanese People From the Late 19th Century
This post was originally published on this siteIn the late 19th century, as Japan navigated the transformative Meiji Era, the ambrotype, known locally as garasu-shashin […]
Japan in the 1920s Through Fascinating Vintage Photos
This post was originally published on this siteThe 1920s in Japan, often remembered as the era of Taisho Democracy, was a vibrant decade defined by […]
A Geisha Poses for a Photo After Washing Her Hair, and Before Styling It, ca. 1910
This post was originally published on this sitePhotographed by Herbert Ponting in 1910, this rare image shows a geisha in a private moment after washing […]
22 Fascinating Photos of Shirley MacLaine as Lucy Dell in “My Geisha” (1962)
This post was originally published on this siteIn the 1962 film My Geisha, Shirley MacLaine stars as Lucy Dell, a famous American comedienne who, in […]
50 Amazing Photos Capture Everyday Life in Japan During the Early 1900s
This post was originally published on this siteAt the dawn of the 20th century, Japan stood at a crossroads between tradition and modernity. The country, […]
The Tricycle of a 3-Year-Old Shinichi Tetsutani, Who Died 1,500 Meters From the Hypocenter of Hiroshima Atomic Bombing
This post was originally published on this siteThis small, rusted tricycle belonged to a 3-year-old boy named Shinichi Tetsutani, who lived in Hiroshima, Japan. On […]
Picking Up Golf Balls Off a Driving Range in Japan, 1956
This post was originally published on this siteIn 1956 Japan, before automation transformed the sport, collecting golf balls from a driving range was an exhausting […]
Rare Photographs of Ainu People With Bears, Which They Consider to be Gods
This post was originally published on this siteThe Ainu people, the indigenous people of northern Japan (mainly Hokkaidō, parts of the Kurils, and Sakhalin), have […]
The Story of Yoshitada and Fumiko Minami, the Inventors of the Automatic Rice Cooker
This post was originally published on this siteIn post–World War II Japan, cooking rice up to three times a day was an exhausting and labor-intensive […]
This Version of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” Had Us Going!
This post was originally published on this siteThe Japanese version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is titled “思春期の匂い” (Shishunki no nioi), which translates to “Smell […]
Vintage Photos Capture Street Scenes of Tokyo in 1973
This post was originally published on this siteTokyo in the 1970s was a city of rapid growth and change. The economic boom of the post-war […]
In 1974, Japanese Photographer Captured His Wife Every Morning From the Window of Their Apartment as She Left for Work
This post was originally published on this site“From Window” by Masahisa Fukase (1974) is a series of photographs capturing his then-wife, Yoko Wanibe, leaving for […]
40 Fascinating Photos Capture Everyday Life in Fukuoka Just After Surrender of Japan
This post was originally published on this siteIn late 1945, Fukuoka was recovering from heavy bombing during World War II. The city had been struck […]
Inside a Bar in Yokohama in the Early 1960s Through Beautiful Found Photos
This post was originally published on this siteIn the 1960s, Yokohama was a city undergoing rapid transformation. As Japan’s second-largest city, it played a key […]
Extraordinary Black and White Photos Captured Winter Scenes in Japan in the 1950s and 1960s
This post was originally published on this siteAsano Kiichi (1914–1993) was born in Kameoka, a rural farming community in Kyoto Prefecture, at an early age […]
Gorgeous Japanese ‘Teen Look’ Magazine Covers Illustrated by Okamoto Satsuko From the 1960s
This post was originally published on this siteTeen Look is a weekly magazine produced for junior and senior high school girls and was sold for […]
30 Beautiful Colorized Photos of Ponta and Oen, the Two Popular Geisha in the Late 1890s
This post was originally published on this sitePonta and Oen were popular Geisha during the 1890s and early 1900s. Many of these images were taken […]
Smallpox Illustration, Japanese Manuscript, ca. 1720
This post was originally published on this siteWatercolor illustration from a Japanese work on smallpox entitled Toshin seiyo [The essentials of smallpox] consisting of a […]
Photos of Toyota 2000GT Assembly Line in the Late 1960s
This post was originally published on this siteThe 2000GT was very important for Toyota Motor Company because it proved to the world that they could […]
Portraits of Young Japanese Women at Kabukicho, Shinjuku’s Red Light District in Tokyo From the 1960s and 1970s
This post was originally published on this siteKatsumi Watanabe (1941–2006) is probably best known for his work in Shinjuku’s red light district, Kabukicho, in Tokyo. […]
Nishiyama Onsen Keiunkan: The Oldest Hotel in the World
This post was originally published on this siteNishiyama Onsen Keiunkan is an onsen—a Japanese hot spring spa—in the Yamanashi Prefecture. Founded in 705 by Fujiwara […]
1947 Toyopet Model SA, One of the Earliest Toyota Cars
This post was originally published on this siteThe SA was Toyota’s first new passenger car design (as opposed to updating the AA) after World War […]