The Fine Arts Library at Harvard University has recently published a newly updated version of "Early Photography of Japan" on CURIOSity. This virtual collection pulls together over 2,000 images from more than 40 souvenir photograph albums and illustrated publications from Japan held by the Fine Arts Library, Harvard-Yenching Library, and Widener Library.

These images primarily document the early history of commercial photography in Japan and are representative of what is often called Japanese tourist photography or Yokohama shashin. They reflect the Western image of traditional Japanese culture before the dramatic transformation brought about by modernization during the Meiji period (1868-1912).

Updates to this CURIOSity website from the original website were completed in 2022 by Naoe Suzuki, Administrative Coordinator for the Fine Arts Library with guidance from Vanessa Venti, Library Analyst for Stewardship of Digital Assets UX and Discovery.

To explore the collection, please visit: http://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:HUL.ERESOURCE:EPJ?utm_source=library.harvard