Views of Japan: Osaka: Ten Noji Temple, moat and castle, people outside theater; Kyoto: general view, Chionin Temple, including view of sculpture in Great Gate, bronze bell, archer at Sanjiu Sangendo in 33,333 Images; Gion-machi, a street in Kyoto, Mikado's garden; Japanese graves at Kurodani, Kyoto; pavilion on a lake, Kinkakuji Garden; spectacle bridge of Otani, lotuses in foreground; Kiyomidzu Temple; Nishi Honganji; boat on river, small buildings alongside, and rocky rapids near Kyoto; Tokyo: Temple at Shiba, Temple Haiden; bronze gate; Iyetsugu's tomb; Mikado's Garden (Fukiage); lotuses in moat in front of Tokyo Castle; Ginza; Shinobadzu (pond) Uyeno Tokyo showing homes on island; restaurant, gardens and bronze Buddha, Uyeno; Asakusa Temple; passenger on boat on Sumida River, Mokojima;l rickshaws on cherry-lined street, Mukojima; Prince Hotta's garden; wisteria in bloom over a pond, Kameido; Horikiri, iris flower garden; Oj tea house; Nikko: huge trees lining Nikko Road, Imaichi; sacred bridge at Nikko; Iyeyasu Temple; storehouse for treasure; Yomei Mon (Great Gate) with ornate carvings; stone steps in front of Iyeyasu Tomb; Iyeyasu's tomb and bronze sculpture; Dainichido Garden, with mountains beyond; Chiusenji Lake, village along side; The Kegon (waterfall); 100 stone images, sculpture along river; village and river at Tonosawa; Udaki (waterfall) near Yumoto, field and village at Yumoto; buildings above creek at Oyama.
Views of Japan: Yokohama: English Hatoba, numerous small boats in foreground; Bund from the water; Grand Hotel, harbor beyond; general and street views; beach and boats at Tomioka; torii, street and hillside stair in Yenoshima; Shinto shrine, bronze Buddha, at Kamakura; lake and village of Kanasawa; mountainous road near Ashio; Watarase River, Omama; boat bridge over river near Maitabasai; (Hot water river) Yusawa at Ikao, street in Ikao; Miyanoshita; thatched roof buildings in Dogashima; Hakone: Gongen Road, Fujiyama from across the lake, village on lake shore; parlor at Hafuya Hotel; Fujiyama from Umetoge; Surgura Tagonura Bridge to Fujiyama, mountain beyond; Asamayama (Fire Mountain) venting above fields and village, from Karuisawa; Nakasendo: street and tea house, Shimono Suwa (tea house and fire bell, Suwa Lake from Shiwojiri Pass, Kakehashi, Kisogawa River at Nakasendo; Nagoya Castle; Biwa Lake from Ishiyama, Biwa Lake from Miidera, village in foregound; general view of Hakodate; Kobe: general view, Suwayam hill, Metaki (waterfall), Mayason (Mon Temple) at Kobe; Tonomine at Yamato; torii and road, Nara; village and rocky shore along Awaji-shima; Arima, set in narrow valley; Ainu in village, Island of Yezo; Onomichi Bingo, Inland Sea, general view of inlets, islands, mountains beyond; Kintai Bashi Bridge, Iwakumi; Nagasaki: inlets and islands, bridge over creek and houses, Nakashima at Nagasaki, Bronze horse Temple, sculpture of horse at right.
Views are numbered with Arabic numerals in negative. Gilt-edge leaves are tabbed into album with lacquer boards and leather spine. Front cover has hand-painted and inlaid scene of 3 children playing instruments and dancing, one holding mask. Inlays are of mother-of-pearl, ivory and wood. Back cover is painted view of vase, leaves and flowers, and a butterfly. End papers and doublure of imitation moire.
Source note: Attribution of album to Kusakabe based on comparison with album titled "Views of Japan," (8-BEW+) which contains images identical to images in this album, and has an image that has been identified in Worswick (p. 49) as a Kusakabe Kimbei image.
Biographical/historical: The technology of photography was introduced into Asian countries soon after its invention in various forms in Europe. The first daguerreotype camera was imported into Japan in 1848 (the patent dates to 1839). Wet and dry plate photographic processes were introduced into Japan by Dutch photographers stationed on the island of Dejima, in Nagasaki Bay, beginning in the 1850s. Japan was first opened to foreigners following the entry of Admiral Perry into Tokyo Bay in 1853 (a daguerreotype photographer accompanied Perry's expedition); we thus have an extensive photographic documentation of Japan, and of interaction between the Japanese and foreigners, from this period on. Kimbei (Kusakabe Kimbei) is a major Japanese photographer who assisted Felice Beato in the hand-coloring of photographs until 1863. He set up his own large and flourishing studio in Yokohama in 1881.
Physical Description
Extent: 1 album (100 photographic prints) : albumen, col. ; approx. 21 x 26.5 cm or smaller on leaves 30 x 38 cm.
