The 19th century was a period of significant transformation in Japan. The few photographs that exist provide a unique window into this fascinating period.
These images offer a glimpse into a traditional culture that was rapidly evolving and capture the essence of daily life, showcasing the people, architecture, and customs of a nation undergoing rapid modernization during the Meiji period.
Through the lens of photographers, we can experience 19th-century Japan in a way that was never possible. Join us as we delve into this captivating world.
Japanese archers practicing,1870s.
A samurai with two swords, 1868.
Empress Shōken, 1860s.
Sumo wrestling, Yokohama, 1887.
A man of the Ainu, an indigenous people of Northern Japan, c. 1880
The future Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, Nagasaki, 1891.
A Japanese mother and child, 1866
Six sumo wrestlers, c. 1890
Komuso monks, 1887.
7th-century wooden village of Ikaho, 1880
Damaged photo of a Samurai, 1865.
Three farmers with their harvest, 1865A Yamabushi (Buddhist Warrior Monk), 1895.
