About this site

Posted Materials

Posted images are from photo albums and photograph collections held by the National Diet Library. A large number of examples have been selected from the following photo albums and photograph collections in particular.

• Jinzan Chisuicho, Mitsumura Shashinbu, 1902 <Call Number: 401-10>
• Chiri Shashincho, Noguchi Yasuoki, Toyosha, 1900 <Call Number: 87-35>
• Nihon Shashincho, Tayama Muneto, Tomoe Shokai, 1912 <Call Number: 408-51>
• Nihon no Meisho, Segawa Mitsuyuki, Shiden Hensansho, 1900 <Call Number: 403-76>
• Tabi no Iezuto, Mitsumura Shashinbu, 1898-1902 <Call Number: 8-222>
• ⇒Refer to Posted Materials for details

Photo explanations, etc

The title for each photo is an exact transcription of the notation on the posted materials, however old-style kanji characters have been converted to modern kanji and English spelling mistakes have been corrected.
In cases where descriptions and other information related to posted photos are contained in the "NDL Digital Collections" or the "The Landmarks of Edo in Color Woodblock Prints" NDL Digital Exhibition, links are provided to view said descriptions and other information.
In addition, when individuals related to the photos are contained within the "Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures" NDL Digital Exhibition, links are provided to view portraits, simple histories and other information about the individuals.
Addresses are all from the late Meiji to Taisho eras, and have mainly been referenced from photo explanatory notes and NDL Digital Collections linked descriptions.

Articles

Columns were created by library employees.

Searching for old photos

The following materials categorize photographic collections held by the NDL and note the details of their contents (captions). Those searching for old photos should refer to these materials.

• "National Diet Library Inventory of Photographic Collections, 1868-1926 (Comprehensive list of the details of contents of photo books and albums possessed by the NDL- Meiji, Taisho version)" Reference Service and Bibliography, No. 33, November 1987 <Call Number: Z21-291>
• National Diet Library Inventory of Photographic Collections, 1926-1945 (Comprehensive list of the details of contents of photo books and albums possessed by the NDL- early Showa version), National Diet Library Special Materials Department, Sold by: Kinokuniya Shoten, 1999 <Call Number: KC711-G5>

Update information

Provision began on April 27, 2016.

Link

In general the contents of this exhibition can be linked to freely and without restriction.
In addition, the following banners can be used to link to the site.

• Banner image (Small) 88×31 pixels GIF Format 2.2KB

  

  Banner image (Big) 337×73 pixels GIF Format 18KB

  

Reproduction of the contents

All images used in the digital exhibition "The Meiji and Taisho Eras in Photographs" are in the public domain. The digital images and commentary of this digital exhibition may be reproduced or reused, including for commercial use, without making any application to the National Diet Library. Please read the Terms of Use of Contents of the National Diet Library website before using these digital images or commentary.

The user must cite the source when using the Content. Sources should be cited in the following manner:

(Examples of source citation)
Source:
The Meiji and Taisho Eras in Photographs, National Diet Library, Japan (https://www.ndl.go.jp/scenery/)

The Terms of Use of the National Diet Library Digital Exhibitions that was in effect until February 2025 can be found on the Web Archiving Project (WARP) website. There have been no changes made to the terms and conditions regarding reproduction and reuse of content (As of March 2025).

Web Accessibility

The National Diet Library strives to make its website accessible to people of all capabilities and ensure that content is perceivable, operable, and understandable in accordance with the National Diet Library accessibility policy (Japanese) based on JIS X 8341-2:2010 “Guidelines for older persons and persons with disabilities- Information and communications equipment, software and services-Part 3: Web content”. We hereby provide our website test results (Japanese).

Contact

• Service Planning Division, Reader Services and Collections Department, National Diet Library
• 1-10-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8924
• Tel: 03-3581-2331 (Switchboard)
• E-mail: webcont