Old Tokyo

“Tateyama Bushi”, Tokyo Nautical School, Tokyo, c. 1905.

Steve Sundberg — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 06:01:30 +0000

See also: The Tokyo Nautical School training ship “Taisei Maru”, 1906. I.J.N. training cruise to the Mediterranean Sea, 1926-1927. Don’t cry for me when we set sail, At the moment of departure— (Sore hoi) Out on the open sea, pulling the oars won’t tire out my hands! (Sore hoi, nadayo, sore hoi) – “Tateyama Bushi” […]

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Aerial view of Sophia University (Jōchi Daigaku), Yotsuya, Tokyo, 1934.

Steve Sundberg — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 05:01:31 +0000

See also: Sophia University, Yotsuya, Tokyo, c. 1930. Yotsuya-mitsuke, Tokyo, c. 1915. [Translated from German:] Thank you very much for the detailed Christmas letter, for the “Marienkalender”*, etc.! Hopefully, the “vocabulaire nouvel”** will appear soon and be well received! Congratulations to Alois on his appointment! On the reverse side is an aerial photograph of our […]

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“Extraordinary Festival”, Yasukuni Shrine, Tokyo, 1921.

Steve Sundberg — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 05:01:23 +0000

The postcards above commemorate two coincidental events in April 1921, at Yasukuni Shrine — the enshrinement of war dead from both the Great War (1914-18) and the Siberian Intervention (1919-1921) and, on the right, the dedication of what then was the largest torii in Japan erected at the shrine entrance. See also: Yasukuni Shrine at […]

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“Founding of the State and the Implementation of Imperial Rule”, Japan-Manchukuo Friendship propaganda postcard, 1935.

Steve Sundberg — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 05:01:06 +0000

The postcard commemorates two key anniversaries of Manchukuo, the puppet state established in Northeast China by Imperial Japan (1932–1945) following the Mukden Incident in 1930. It features the national flags of Imperial Japan and Manchukuo above the slogan “Japan-Manchukuo Friendship” (Nichiman Shinzen). Issued on March 1, 1935, and canceled in Mukden, the postcard’s official commemorative […]

The post “Founding of the State and the Implementation of Imperial Rule”, Japan-Manchukuo Friendship propaganda postcard, 1935. first appeared on Old Tokyo.

“Japan’s Best Premiums”, Aikoku Life Insurance Co., Hibiya, Tokyo, c. 1930.

Old Tokyo — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 05:01:27 +0000

See also: “My family has two coats of armor”, Imperial Life Insurance Co. advertising postcard, c. 1930. Daiichi Conscription Insurance Co., Ltd., Osaka, c. 1930. Fukoku Fire & Marine Insurance Co., Ltd. advertising postcard, Tokyo, c. 1930. Aikoku Seimei Hoken (Patriotic Life Insurance Co.) was a prominent Japanese life insurance provider established during the Meiji […]

The post “Japan’s Best Premiums”, Aikoku Life Insurance Co., Hibiya, Tokyo, c. 1930. first appeared on Old Tokyo.

“Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Keio Gijuku” postcard set, Keio University, Tokyo, 1907.

Old Tokyo — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 05:01:20 +0000

See also: Keio University library, Mita, Tokyo, c. 1920. Keio University vs. University of Chicago, 1915 The Keio-Gijuku 50th Anniversary of Its Foundation The Japan Times, April 12, 1907 “The Keio-gijuku, established in the 5th year of Ansei (1857), will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its foundation on the 21st [of this month]. “There […]

The post “Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Founding of Keio Gijuku” postcard set, Keio University, Tokyo, 1907. first appeared on Old Tokyo.

“Grand Welcome Garden Party”, Koishikawa Korakuen Garden, Tokyo, 1906.

Old Tokyo — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 05:01:59 +0000

See also: Sumo wrestler Hitachiyama, c. 1910. “General Head-Quarters of the Manchurian Armies in Mukden”, 1906. The Grand Welcome Garden Party of 1906 was a high-profile victory celebration hosted in the spring of 1906 on the grounds of Koishikawa Korakuen Garden nearby Ochanomizu, Tokyo, by the Minister of War, General Terauchi Masatake, to honor returning […]

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Mitsukoshi Shinjuku grand opening, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 1930.

Old Tokyo — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 05:01:57 +0000

See also: Mitsukoshi Department Store, c. 1926-1960. Isetan Department Store, Shinjuku, c. 1935. Hoteiya department store, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 1929. Prior to constructing an 8-story department store on Shinjuku-dori, Mitsukoshi operated temporary market outposts in the area following the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake (first at the Shinjuku Oiwake junction and later near the station). The grand […]

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“Commemorative Postcards of the Imperial Army Special Grand Maneuvers”, Kanto Plain, 1921.

Old Tokyo — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 05:01:21 +0000

See also: Special Military Exercises propaganda postcards, Kanto Plain, Tokyo, 1934. Army Air Defense Drill propaganda postcard set, c. 1930. Crown Prince Hirohito’s Tour of Europe, 1921. “Imperial Head-Quarters during the [First] China-Japan War”, Hiroshima, c. 1910. The 1921 Imperial Japanese Army Special Grand Maneuvers (Tokubetsu Dai-Enshū) were held in mid-November. The simulated defensive maneuvers […]

The post “Commemorative Postcards of the Imperial Army Special Grand Maneuvers”, Kanto Plain, 1921. first appeared on Old Tokyo.

Mid-Summer Greetings, Hata Trading Co., Nihonbashi, Tokyo, 1938.

Old Tokyo — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 05:01:19 +0000

See also: Meiji-brand “Cream Caramel” advertising postcard, c. 1935. “Bull-Dog Sauce” New Year’s advertising & propaganda postcard, 1938. Sending shuchū-mimai is a long-standing custom in Japan of wishing good health and to express appreciation to business partners and friends during the hot summer months. This particular postcard was sent by Hata Store, a Tokyo textile […]

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