Meiji Era

Take one last look at the classic architecture of Nara Juvenile Prison【Photos】

This stunning work of century-old architecture has given its last tour allowing people access to never-before-seen parts of the facility.

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Artist’s photos from early 1900s Japan are little windows into another world 【Photos】

These aren’t illustrations or romanticized stories – just normal Japanese people as they lived over a century ago.

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Here are 11 more colored photographs from Meiji-era Japan, plus the artists who colored them

Photography sure was a lot different back in the day!

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All-female Takarazuka Revue set to perform Rurouni Kenshin musical early next year

In early 2016, the beloved Rurouni Kenshin series will be getting its first musical adaptation by the Takarazuka Revue, Japan’s all-female musical theater troupe! If you’re a fan of the manga and singing, check out when and where the musical will be performed and start planning accordingly.

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Edo and Meiji era Japanese artwork now available for free download 【Pics】

Attention all designers, artists, fashion enthusiasts and people who just appreciate some nice Japanese artwork: The Smithsonian Libraries should be your best friends.

Among their thousands of other free artwork and books, The Smithsonian Libraries and the Freer and Slacker Galleries, Smithsonian’s Museums of Asian Arts now offer free downloads of thousands of beautiful Japanese prints.

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23 “postcard photos” of Japan from the late 1800s

Postcards and commemorative photos at modern souvenir shops in Japan usually feature full-color high-res images of Tokyo Tower or Mount Fuji framed by cherry blossoms. At around 50 yen (US$0.50) a piece, they’re an inexpensive way to show off your recent trip or give someone a gift. Flashback nearly 150 years and those same souvenir photos start to look a little different. Let’s take a look at 23 hand-colored albumen silver prints of Meiji Era Japan that were sold abroad and to foreigners visiting Japan.

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