Image: A Japanese soldier poses with the severed head of one of his victims. The Rape of Nanking, December 1937. The name Nanking, now the sprawling capital of Jiangsu province in eastern China, is forever etched with the indelible stain of one of the 20th century’s most horrific atrocities. In the winter of 1937, followingContinue reading “The Unspeakable Darkness: The Rape of Nanking and the World’s Silence”
Category Archives: Japan
The Nine-Fingered Geisha: 30 Vintage Portraits of Chishō Takaoka aka Teruha From the Early 20th Century
Chishō Takaoka (April 22, 1896 – October 22, 1994) was a geisha in Shinbashi who became a Buddhist nun later in life. Her stage name was Chiyoha or Teruha, while her real name was Tatsuko Takaoka. She became famous for her radiant beauty, and for chopping off one of her fingers for her lover. SheContinue reading “The Nine-Fingered Geisha: 30 Vintage Portraits of Chishō Takaoka aka Teruha From the Early 20th Century”
25 Fascinating Photographs Showing Rock Stars As Tourists in Japan During the 1970s and 1980s
When Led Zeppelin arrived in Japan for a 1971 tour less than two months before the release of their fourth album, it was a time of great excitement for the band and for rock ’n’ roll in the land of the rising sun. Zep was one of the first big Western groups to visit, andContinue reading “25 Fascinating Photographs Showing Rock Stars As Tourists in Japan During the 1970s and 1980s”
Young Japanese Women’s Fashion of the Late 1960s
After World War II, the strong influence from the United States caused Japanese ways of dressing to undergo a major transition, and people began to more readily follow the trends from the West. Japanese women were starting to replace the loose-fitting trousers called monpe, required wear for war-related work, with Western-style skirts. Whilst we’re byContinue reading “Young Japanese Women’s Fashion of the Late 1960s”
Shimada Hairstyle: The Lovely Traditional Hairdo of Japanese Women
The Shimada is a women’s hairstyle in Japan, similar to a chignon. Generally the hair is gathered together at the crown of the head and a small portion of the bun is sectioned off to point outward. This hairstyle was from the Edo period, and used still to this day. It became one of theContinue reading “Shimada Hairstyle: The Lovely Traditional Hairdo of Japanese Women”
41 Amazing Colorized Pictures Showing Life in Japan During the 19th Century
Felice Beato (1832-1909) was an Italian–British photographer. He was one of the first people to take photographs in East Asia and one of the first war photographers. He is noted for his genre works, portraits, and views and panoramas of the architecture and landscapes of Asia and the Mediterranean region. Beato’s travels gave him theContinue reading “41 Amazing Colorized Pictures Showing Life in Japan During the 19th Century”
35 Beautiful Photos Capture Daily Life of Yokosuka, Japan in the 1970s
Yokosuka (横須賀市, Yokosuka-shi) is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of October 2017, the city has a population of 409,478, and a population density of 4,066 inhabitants per square kilometre (10,530/sq mi). The total area is 100.7 km2 (38.9 sq mi). Yokosuka is the 11th most populous city in the Greater Tokyo Area, andContinue reading “35 Beautiful Photos Capture Daily Life of Yokosuka, Japan in the 1970s”
37 Vintage Portraits of Ainu Women From Northern Japan With Their Traditional Tattooed Lips during the 1900s
Ainu means human. The Ainu people regard things useful to them or beyond their control as kamuy (gods). In daily life, they prayed to and performed various ceremonies for the gods. These gods include: “nature” gods, such as of fire, water, wind and thunder; “animal” gods, such as of bears, foxes, spotted owls and gram-puses;Continue reading “37 Vintage Portraits of Ainu Women From Northern Japan With Their Traditional Tattooed Lips during the 1900s”
36 Portraits of Gangs of Kabukicho, Tokyo in the 1960s and 1970s
Kabukicho is an entertainment and red-light district situated in the busy Tokyo area of Shinjuku. At night the streets are buzzing with neon lights, as the host and hostess bars and clubs come to life. Meanwhile, in the criminal underworld, around a thousand gangsters (Yakuza) are said to operate in the area, giving this spotContinue reading “36 Portraits of Gangs of Kabukicho, Tokyo in the 1960s and 1970s”
