Photography in Japan 1853-1912

The must-have classic work on early Japanese photography!

This book presents a fascinating visual record of Japan and Japanese culture during its metamorphosis from a feudal society to a modern industrial nation—at a time when the art of photography was still in its infancy. The 350 rare images in this book, most of them published here for the first time, chronicle the introduction of photography in Japan and the history of early Japanese photography. These images are vital in helping us to understand the dramatic changes occurring in Japanese society during this critical period.

Taken between 1853 and 1912 by talented Japanese and foreign photographers, these photographs document the history of photography in Japan in a comprehensive and systematic way, with extensive information about the photographers as well as the people and subjects illustrated.

‘Impressive overview of the history of Japanese photography between 1853 and 1912…Bennett has been collecting and researching the pioneering years of Japanese photography for 25 years…Essential publication for everyone interested in early Japanese photography.’ Society for Japanese Arts Newsletter

‘Let me say from the outset, if you’re looking for a giant book filled with old pictures of Japan, this isn’t it. It’s more. Photography in Japan: 1853-1912 is a masterwork of Japanese photography history based primarily on the original research of one man: Terry Bennett. I dove into the book expecting to simply thumb through each page, freshly taking in each photo without context. But what I found was a Ken Burns documentary on paper. This book is as much about the photographers as the photos themselves.’ Tofugu.com blog

Author Biography

Terry Bennett, a British writer based in London, has been collecting and researching nineteenth-century Asian photography for over forty years. He has lectured on the subject in the United States, China, Japan, Vietnam, and Europe and has written numerous articles. His books include Early Japanese Images (Tuttle, 1996), Japan: Caught in Time with Hugh Cortazzi (1996), Korea: Caught in Time (1997), The Illustrated London News: Complete Record of the Opening and Modernising of Japan, 1853-1899 (2006), Japan and The Graphic: Complete Record of Reported Events 1870-1899 (2012), Japanese Photographs: Collectors’ Data Guide (2006), History of Photography in China (3 Volumes, 2009-2013), and Early Photography in Vietnam (2020).