Here is an original Japanese photo album documenting the early stage of the conflict known as the Manchurian Incident (1931). What is the Manchurian Incident? The Manchurian Incident began in 1931, when the Imperial Japanese Army advanced into northeastern China (Manchuria). This event led to the creation of Manchukuo and ultimately expanded into the larger conflicts of the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II in the Pacific. ? This is one of the earliest visual records of the war that would reshape Asia. Early war photographs (infantry, artillery, occupation scenes). Imperial Japanese military aircraft and airfields. Urban control and railway infrastructure (South Manchuria Railway context). Strategic maps of Manchuria. Original wartime Japanese perspective (propaganda material). This is not just a photo book-it is a visual narrative of how the war was presented to the Japanese public. Why This Matters. Unlike later wartime publications, this album captures the early phase of the conflict, before the war expanded into full-scale global warfare. The beginning of Japanese expansion. The role of military and infrastructure. The atmosphere of a nation entering war. Cover shows wear, fading, and aging. Missing colophon page (publication details inferred from content and style). Interior pages and photographs are in relatively good condition for age. Please check photos carefully. Early Imperial Japanese military documentation. Manchuria / Manchukuo historical material. Wartime propaganda and visual culture. Perfect for collectors, historians, and researchers. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is the “Manchurian Army Victory Photo Album” Vol. 40, published in 1906 by Hakubunkan as a special issue of the Shashin Gaho (Pictorial Magazine). About the Russo-Japanese War. It marked the first time an Asian power defeated a European empire in modern warfare, and had a major impact on world history. The “Manchurian Army” refers to the Japanese Army forces dispatched to Manchuria (present-day Northeast China), where they fought decisive battles such as the Siege of Port Arthur and the Battle of Mukden. Contents of this Album. Includes a vivid color lithograph frontispiece depicting Major General Fukushima and troops marching in triumph. Rich with battlefield photographs, illustrations, soldiers’ accounts, and war reports, vividly recording the atmosphere of the era. This album served as both a commemorative publication of Japan’s victory and a record for the home front. Today, it remains an invaluable historical reference for collectors and researchers of the Russo-Japanese War and modern Japanese military history. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
Pre-WWII Imperial Japanese Army Infantry Photo Album 112 Photos 1930s. Condition Vintage pre-owned item. The album spine binding is detached, but the photographs remain viewable and enjoyable. Please check the images carefully for detailed condition. Item Details Type: Original Military Photo Album Country: Japan Era: Estimated around Showa 8 (circa 1933) Number of Photos: Approx. 112 photographs Album Size: Approx. 25 cm x 19 cm Contents (as identified). Imperial Japanese Army infantry regiment. Soldiers and military uniforms. Tanks and armored vehicles. Military ceremonies and regimental flag events. Locations including Yamagata Station, Chitoseyama, Obanazawa, and Kajo Park. Officers such as Brigade Commander Kawahara and Colonel Tanaka Historical Context This album is believed to date from around 1933 during the early expansion period of the Imperial Japanese Army following the Manchurian Incident. It documents military personnel, equipment, ceremonies, and local activities, providing a rare visual record of the pre-World War II Japanese Army. Following the Manchurian Incident of 1931, the Imperial Japanese Army entered a period of rapid expansion and military activity across East Asia. During this time, soldiers and officers often compiled personal or regimental photo albums to record training exercises, ceremonies, and daily life within their units. Albums containing large numbers of original photographs are particularly valuable to historians and collectors because they provide a continuous visual record of military organization, equipment, and regional deployment during the early 1930s. Examples documenting infantry regiments and military life in regional Japan, such as Yamagata, are relatively scarce and offer unique insight into the pre-World War II era of the Japanese military. About other area, please ask me. International Buyers – Please Note. We do not mark merchandise values below value or mark items as “gifts” – US and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.
Imperial Japanese Navy Fleet Review commemorative photo album. October 1927 (Showa 2). Special Naval Grand Maneuvers and Fleet Review. Hatakeyama Picture Postcard Store. 15 x 22.5 cm. This is an exceptional surviving visual record of Japan’s interwar navy at the height of battleship prestige. Grand Fleet Review outside Yokohama Harbor. Night battle operations of the Second Fleet. Aircraft and torpedo flotilla maneuvers. Smoke screen attack actions by destroyer forces. Activity of then-modern cruisers. Admirals and Naval Leadership Included. Portrait pages include major commanders of the era. Commander in Chief, Combined Fleet. First Torpedo Squadron. Second Torpedo Squadron. First Submarine Squadron. This album captures the Imperial Japanese Navy during the treaty era between World Wars, when sea power was still measured by battleships, cruisers, submarines, and emerging naval aviation. As an original item over many decades old. Corrosion to staples/binding metal parts. Please review photos carefully. A scarce naval historical piece rarely found today. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Thank you for your interest. This is an original photo album documenting the official visit of. Manchukuo Emperor Puyi to Japan in 1935 (Showa 10). Who was Puyi? The last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty (China). Later installed as the Emperor of Manchukuo under Japanese influence. He represents a unique figure in world history. ? A fallen emperor turned into the symbolic ruler of a newly created state. Why did he visit Japan in 1935? This visit was not a casual trip. ? A major political and ceremonial event to demonstrate the alliance between Imperial Japan and Manchukuo. During this visit, Puyi. Was formally welcomed at major stations and cities. Inspected military units (Army & Navy). Attended official ceremonies and state events. ? In essence, this was a carefully staged political performance. What this album contains. This album visually records that historic visit, including. Arrival scenes at railway stations. Military parades and ceremonial formations. Official receptions and processions. ? It is a primary historical record, not a later reproduction. Why this item is rare. This piece stands out because. This album documents a specific, short-lived event. It combines photographs + printed explanations. Original binding and storage case are still present. ? Items like this rarely appear on the market. Age-related stains, wear, and discoloration. Damage to outer case. Signs of use consistent with age. Please check photos carefully for details. Collector’s perspective. This is more than a photo album. ? A visual record of a vanished state. ? A document of Imperial Japan’s political narrative. ? A rare surviving piece of 20th-century history. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This extremely rare photo album documents a pivotal moment in modern Japanese history-the final provincial tour of Crown Prince Hirohito (later Emperor Showa) before his ascension to the Chrysanthemum Throne. Conducted in May 1926, just months before Emperor Taisho’s death, this tour to Okayama Prefecture symbolized not only continuity of imperial tradition, but also the coming of a new era. At only 25 years old, Hirohito was already serving as regent due to his father’s failing health. His travels across Japan were carefully observed by both the Japanese public and political elites, as they represented the emergence of a new national figurehead during a time of rapid modernization and political uncertainty. This particular album-privately published in Okayama-features. Hirohito’s visit to the prestigious Sixth High School (a key feeder to Tokyo Imperial University). Ceremonial appearances at Kibitsu Shrine and Okayama Castle. Photographs of cheering crowds, imperial motorcades, and students saluting the Crown Prince. Exceptional candid shots reflecting imperial pageantry and authority. As Emperor Showa, Hirohito would later reign through Japan’s most tumultuous era-spanning militarization, war, defeat, and postwar reconstruction. This album offers an intimate look at the young man who would become the longest-reigning monarch in Japanese history and one of the most complex political figures of the 20th century. Publisher: Kiriyama Photo Studio, Okayama. 15 × 22.5 cm. Condition: Wear, staining, and aging present. Please examine images carefully. A rare and historically significant artifact. Ideal for collectors of prewar Japan, imperial memorabilia, or Hirohito-related history. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
Compiled by his relative Taga Muneo, this limited non-commercial edition contains Taga’s handwritten poems, essays, ink paintings, and sketches created during his long service in China – including scenes of Nanking, Peking, and Manchuria. Taga served over 20 years as a cavalry officer and military attaché in China from the late Meiji to early Showa era. A valuable firsthand record of Japanese military culture, art, and diplomacy in prewar East Asia. Not listed in the National Diet Library; likely a private printing circulated only among family and comrades. Published: December 10, 1935 (Showa 10). Size: 19 × 12.5 cm / Japanese-style binding. Condition: Very good for age (minor foxing, light wear). Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Rare historical photo album documenting the early period of the Manchurian Incident. The book was issued by the Kwantung Army Headquarters, the Japanese Imperial Army force stationed in Manchuria (northeastern China). Rather than a commercial publication, this type of book was typically produced for military personnel or related officials as a commemorative historical record. The Kwantung Army was one of the most influential military forces of Imperial Japan. Originally established to protect Japanese interests and the South Manchuria Railway, it later became the main military force involved in the events that triggered the Manchurian Incident in 1931. The Manchurian Incident marked a major turning point in East Asian history. Following the conflict, Japan established the state of Manchukuo, and the region became a central stage for the political and military developments that eventually led to the Second World War in Asia. Contents of the Book. This album contains many photographs and illustrations documenting that period, including. Portraits of senior Japanese military commanders. Military operations and units of the Kwantung Army. Military vehicles and medical units. Scenes from cities and daily life in Manchuria. Early Japanese military aircraft. Public ceremonies and historical events. The book is a large-format photo album approx. 31 cm with many photographic plates. Why This Book Is Rare. After World War II, during the Allied occupation of Japan under GHQ, large quantities of wartime materials were confiscated or destroyed. Military publications, aviation-related documents, and wartime records were especially affected. Additionally, Japan was prohibited from manufacturing aircraft for several years after the war. Because of this, many pre-war Japanese military and aviation publications did not survive, making original photo albums from this era increasingly scarce today. Cover wear and stains. Minor damage consistent with age. Please review the photos carefully for details. Large photo album format. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Original Imperial Japanese Navy photo album documenting the training and graduation of 4th Class Engine Room Sailors (Kikanhei) at the Kure Naval Training Corps (Kure Kaheidan) in January, 1936 (Showa 11). About the Kure Naval Training Corps. Kure Kaheidan was one of Japan’s four major naval recruit training bases, along with Yokosuka, Sasebo, and Maizuru. Located in Hiroshima Prefecture, Kure was the home of the Kure Naval Arsenal, which built the legendary battleships Yamato and Nagato. All new recruits to the Imperial Navy underwent basic training here-covering discipline, drill, seamanship, gunnery, signaling, and engineering-before joining the fleet. About Engine Room Sailors (Kikanhei). Engine room sailors were the technical backbone of the fleet, responsible for maintaining and operating boilers, turbines, and generators-the “heart” of a warship. As 4th Class trainees, they began their service at the lowest rank, learning steam and mechanical systems through practical exercises in the engine room. Scenes of the enlistment ceremony and first day of training. Physical and drill exercises, marksmanship, and engineering instruction. Photos of boiler and machinery training. A visit to the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy (Etajima). Recreation and morale events. Each section is accompanied by original period captions, vividly illustrating the strict yet proud life of Imperial Navy recruits before the Pacific War. The front cover board is torn, and some pages with text show creases or tears. Photographs remain clear and well-preserved overall. Considering its age (nearly 90 years old), the condition is good for display or research. A highly valuable prewar Japanese Navy artifact, documenting the training of the men who powered the fleet from below decks. An authentic “engine room view” of the Imperial Navy before the Pacific War. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an original pre-WWII Japanese military art book titled. “Seisen Bijutsu (Sacred War Art)”, published in 1936. Compiled by the Imperial Japanese Army Art Association. This book represents a rare example of official war art produced under direct military authority. During the 1930s, the Japanese Army organized and supported a group of leading artists. To document real battlefields through visual art. This was not simply artistic expression. ? It was a state-driven project combining art, propaganda, and historical record. Artists were sent to the front lines, and their works were used to convey. The reality – and narrative – of war to the public. About the Army Art Association. The Imperial Japanese Army Art Association gathered many prominent artists of the time. Forming a powerful network backed by military authority. This movement included figures such as. ? Tsuguharu Foujita (Leonard Foujita) – internationally recognized painter from the École de Paris. This highlights an important fact. ? World-class artists were mobilized to depict war. The book contains large-format, highly detailed color plates depicting. Battle of Nankou Pass (North China front). Hangzhou / Lin’an operations. Infantry assaults and front-line combat. Field medical treatment of wounded soldiers. Logistics, transport, and armored warfare. These are not fictional scenes, but visual interpretations based on real military operations. This item exists at the intersection of. ? A work of art. ? A historical document. ? A reflection of wartime ideology. Large-format war art books like this are increasingly difficult to find in complete form. Age-related wear, stains, and discoloration. Damage to cover and spine. Please refer to the photos for details. This is not just a book. It is a piece of how war was seen, recorded, and presented. A rare surviving artifact from a time when. Art and military power were deeply intertwined. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.