This is an original Japanese memorial photo book published in 1937 (Showa 12). Documenting a special exhibition held one year after the death of. A central political figure assassinated during Japan’s largest domestic military coup attempt. The February 26 Incident (1936). The exhibition was organized by Miyako Shimbun and held at Shirokiya Department Store, Nihonbashi, Tokyo. And this volume records the event through photographs, calligraphy, official documents, and exhibition displays. The February 26 Incident marked a decisive turning point in modern Japanese history. After the incident, overt military rebellion subsided. But the political influence of the armed forces expanded rapidly. Civilian control weakened, fiscal restraint collapsed, and Japan moved steadily toward prolonged war in East Asia. And eventually full involvement in World War II. Takahashi Korekiyo had opposed unlimited military spending and advocated financial balance and civilian governance. His death symbolized the loss of restraint at the highest level of government. This book was produced immediately after that turning point. Making it a contemporary visual record of how Japanese society commemorated the moment when civilian leadership faded and militarization accelerated. Photographs of the memorial exhibition space. Original calligraphy and handwritten documents. Displayed personal artifacts and official records. Period exhibition architecture and visitors. Contemporary explanatory texts by the publisher. Rather than a biography, this volume functions as a historical archive. Capturing how the event was publicly presented and understood at the time. Complete with original covers and contents. Overall very clean and well preserved. Long out of print. Please refer to photos for exact condition details. 225 × 283 mm. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an original. 1934 portrait medal of Marshal Admiral Togo Heihachiro. In the same year that Togo died. Togo Heihachiro died on. And was honored with a state funeral. This medal was produced in that same year, making it a period commemorative piece closely connected with the national mourning and remembrance of one of the most important figures in modern Japanese naval history. The front features a finely modeled portrait of Togo in full ceremonial military uniform. The surrounding inscription reads. ? Marshal Admiral, Senior First Rank, Grand Cordon, First Class of Merit, Marquis Togo Heihachiro. The artist’s signature reads. Made by Masakichi Hata. Masakichi Hata was an important Japanese sculptor and medal artist who worked closely with the Japan Mint and played a major role in its medal engraving and sculptural work. The reverse depicts the famous battleship associated with Togo and bears the inscriptions. “Made by the Japan Mint”. The fate of the Empire depends upon this battle. Let every man do his utmost. This phrase is closely associated with the. Battle of Tsushima on May 27, 1905. When Togo commanded the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet against the Russian Baltic Fleet. The reverse therefore brings together four powerful symbols in one design. The original fitted presentation case is also included. Inside the case are the gold inscriptions. “Marshal Togo Portrait Plaque”. This is not simply a later souvenir of Admiral Togo. It is a genuine 1934 commemorative portrait piece created in the very year of his death, when his achievements were being formally remembered throughout Japan. The metal surface shows natural age-related patina, and the fitted case shows wear and deterioration consistent with its age. A remarkable surviving object connecting Admiral Togo, the battleship Mikasa, the Russo-Japanese War, and the memory of the Battle of Tsushima. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an official, non-public photo album published in 1929 (Showa 4) to commemorate the Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Showa. In pre-war Imperial Japan. Was not only the head of state but the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy. The enthronement ceremony therefore marked the formal transfer of supreme military command, making this event a crucial moment in Japan’s military and political history. Nature of the Album. Its purpose was not decorative, but documentary and institutional-to preserve the official record of a national and military ceremony tied directly to imperial authority and command structure. Cover Inscription (Original Text). The gold-stamped cover reads. (Imperial Enthronement Commemorative Photo Album). The album features a cloth-bound cover with gold lettering, typical of formal military and imperial publications of the era. Contents (Military & Historical Value). The album contains a wide range of official photographs and documents, including. Formal portraits of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun. Enthronement ceremony processions and rituals. Military formations, guards, and ceremonial troops. Security arrangements and controlled urban spaces. Crowds under strict supervision. Detailed map of the Kyoto Imperial Palace complex. Official explanatory texts and event records. The presence of military uniforms, formations, command hierarchy, and ceremonial discipline clearly reflects the emperor’s role as supreme military authority. This is not a simple commemorative book-it is a visual record of state power and military legitimacy in early Showa Japan. The colophon clearly states. Printed: April 15, 1929. Issued: April 17, 1929. Marked: Non-Public / Not for Sale. These details confirm the album as a primary historical source, not a later reproduction. Expected age-related wear is present, including light toning and minor paper waviness. There are no major tears or missing pages, and the album remains fully usable for study and display. For a pre-war military and imperial document, the condition is comparatively well preserved. Summary (For Collectors & Researchers). Emperor Showa as Supreme Commander of Japan’s armed forces. The enthronement as a formal transfer of military authority. A non-public, institutional publication. A rare visual record of imperial ceremony, military order, and state control. Highly recommended for collectors of Imperial Japanese military history. As well as researchers focusing on command structure, state ritual, and pre-WWII Japan. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
1931 “Seijo Goseitoku Roku”. Official Record of Emperor Hirohito (Showa Emperor). 1150 pages – Large Format – Photo Rich Volume. Published in 1931 (Showa 6). This is a substantial official compilation documenting the life of Emperor Hirohito from birth through approximately age 31. The book was published in 1931 – the year of the Manchurian Incident – a turning point when Imperial Japan began its expansion toward full-scale war. It was produced not as a casual biography, but as a state-sponsored record intended for. Influential regional figures. Its purpose was to present a structured image of the Emperor as head of state under the Meiji Constitution. At that time, the Emperor legally held supreme command authority over the Imperial Army and Navy. This makes the volume significant not only as an imperial biography, but as documentation of how pre-WWII Japan formally constructed and disseminated the public image of its sovereign. Constitutional sovereign of Imperial Japan. Holder of supreme military command authority. Central figure during World War II. His historical responsibility and role in wartime decision-making remain subjects of academic debate. This book reflects the official portrayal of him prior to the escalation of the Pacific War. Early life and imperial lineage charts. Formal military portraits. Scientific research (marine biology). Extensive photographic documentation. This is a primary source for researchers studying. Pre-WWII Japanese state ideology. Imperial propaganda development. 26cm x 19.5cm x 9cm. Age-related toning and wear. Structurally solid for its age. This is not a modern reprint. It is an original pre-WWII state publication – a substantial and historically significant document. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
Own a Piece of History. This is an original. 1928 illustrated scroll “Showa Gotaitei Emaki”. To commemorate the enthronement ceremonies of. Emperor Hirohito (Showa Emperor). The scroll measures an impressive. 418 cm 164 in. In total length, and features beautifully printed illustrations by leading Japanese artists of the time, including. Poems are contributed by. Emperor Hirohito (Showa Emperor) reigned from. Overseeing the most dramatic and turbulent era in modern Japanese history. During the 1930s-1945 period, he stood as. The head of state of Imperial Japan. The supreme authority within the military structure. Making him a central figure in Japanese politics and wartime decision-making. This scroll records the. Created at a time when Japan was not yet at total war-capturing the nation before it entered the most consequential years of the 20th century. Because of the emperor’s role in both domestic governance and the military system, any original prewar material related to Hirohito is highly valued among collectors of. Royal and court ceremonial culture. Showa Gotaitei Emaki (Showa Enthronement Illustrated Scroll). Matsuoka Eikyu / Yamaguchi Hoshun / Yoshimura Tadao / Yamada Shuei. One wooden roller end is missing. Age-related toning, creases, light stains. Some fold lines from storage. No major tears; fully viewable. Please check all photos carefully. Authentic prewar Imperial Japan artifact. With significant historical value. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
This is an original 1934 publication titled. “Aviation Volume – National Emergency Encyclopedia” . Published during the early years of Japan’s rapid military aviation expansion, this book was intended to educate the general public about aviation, air power, and the future of warfare. Unlike modern history books, this volume was written. Before World War II. Allowing readers to see aviation through the eyes of people living in the 1930s. Imperial Japanese Navy Air Forces. Bombers and fighter aircraft. Future air warfare concepts. Civil aviation and military aviation. One particularly interesting section is. “How the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force Operates”. Commander Naoo Kato of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Headquarters. Providing a rare contemporary perspective on how naval aviation was viewed before the Pacific War. The book also contains numerous photographs and illustrations of aircraft, aerial operations, bombing concepts, and military aviation developments from around the world. What makes this volume especially fascinating is its date. The Second Sino-Japanese War. The Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter. In other words, this book captures a moment when military aviation was still developing and the future of air warfare remained uncertain. Following Japan’s defeat in 1945, many military and aviation-related publications were destroyed, confiscated, or discarded during the Occupation period. As a result, surviving pre-war aviation references such as this have become increasingly difficult to find. An excellent piece for collectors of. Imperial Japanese Navy memorabilia. A remarkable glimpse into how people imagined the future of air power before World War II changed history forever. Own a Piece of History. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
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.
Original 1933 Imperial Japanese Army Veterans’ Gathering Commemorative Paperweight. A rare prewar cast metal paperweight issued for the Army Commemoration Day (March 10, Showa 8 / 1933) in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. This item was distributed to participants of the Veterans’ Invitational Ceremony (Jugunsha Shotai Taikai) – a formal event honoring former Imperial Army servicemen. The front design features the kanji (Loyalty) and (Sincerity), along with symbolic motifs. Dragonfly (/ courage and vigilance, an Imperial Army symbol). Chrysanthemum-like crest (imperial motif). “Imperial Japanese Army Commemoration – Veterans Invitational – Gunma Prefecture – March 10, 1933″. It represents the interwar period unity of Army and Navy under the Emperor, and served as a patriotic token of loyalty and remembrance for those who had served in the Empire’s earlier campaigns. Date: Showa 8 (1933). Material: cast metal (iron or bronze alloy). Condition: Very good for age. Minor patina and wear due to age. Origin: Gunma Prefecture, Japan. March 10 was designated as “Army Commemoration Day” in prewar Japan, marking the victory in the 1905 Battle of Mukden during the Russo-Japanese War. Local veterans’ groups and prefectural associations held annual gatherings to honor war heroes and reaffirm national loyalty. This paperweight was a souvenir presented to attending veterans – an authentic artifact of Japan’s early Showa militarist culture. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.
This is an original Japanese historical photo book published in 1936 (Showa 11), revised second edition, titled. And the Sacred Battleship. The book was issued by the Mikasa Preservation Society, an organization established to preserve and commemorate Battleship Mikasa as a national historical symbol following the Russo-Japanese War. Battleship Mikasa was the flagship of Admiral Togo during the Battle of Tsushima (1905), one of the most decisive naval victories of the modern era. After the war, Mikasa became a symbolic relic of Japan’s emergence as a naval power, and preservation efforts were supported by naval officers, historians, and the public. This publication reflects how pre-war Japan officially remembered, documented, and revered naval history, particularly the figure of Admiral Togo and the legacy of Mikasa. Official portrait photographs of Admiral Togo Heihachiro. Photographic records of Battleship Mikasa (exterior and interior views). Images of naval officers and related historical figures. Textual accounts and interpretations of the Russo-Japanese War. Documentary-style photo layout typical of early Showa-era historical publications. This is not a modern reprint, but an original pre-war publication intended as a commemorative and educational historical record. About the Mikasa Preservation Society. The Mikasa Preservation Society was founded to protect Battleship Mikasa as a historic warship and national monument. Books published by the society are considered semi-official historical materials, rather than private commercial publications. Overall aging consistent with an item published in the 1930s. Foxing, toning, minor stains, and edge wear present. A red ownership stamp is visible (see photos). Note: copies were originally issued without stamps; please judge condition based on images. Despite age-related wear, the book remains complete and suitable for research or collection. A valuable primary-source style photo book documenting how Imperial Japan commemorated naval history and wartime leadership in the pre-World War II era. Collectors of Imperial Japanese Navy materials. Researchers of the Russo-Japanese War. Naval history and early 20th-century military photography collectors. Approximate 7-21days(To USA).
Original pre-WWII Japanese photo album. Compiled by a member or affiliate of the. Imperial Guard Field Artillery Regiment. The cover bears the original Japanese inscription. Commemorative Album – Imperial Guard Field Artillery Regiment. Unlike mass-produced publications, this album was. Privately assembled as a service memento. Most likely kept by someone who actually served in the unit. Albums of this nature were. Making surviving examples uncommon. Based on uniforms, insignia, ceremonial dress, and photographic style, the images are. Estimated to date from the late Taisho to early Showa period (circa late 1920s-early 1930s). This was a time when the Imperial Guard was maintained as a. Closely associated with the capital and imperial institutions. Please note: the exact year is not stated; this is a historically informed estimate. About the Imperial Guard Field Artillery. Belonged to Japan’s Imperial Guard Division, a unit distinct from ordinary regional formations. Stationed primarily around Tokyo. Emphasized discipline, appearance, and ceremonial standards. Personnel were carefully selected. Records and commemorative items were typically produced in. As a result, albums connected to Imperial Guard units tend to be. Than those of standard field regiments. Over 100 original photographs. Officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted men. Group portraits and individual studio photos. Mounted officers in full dress. Artillery equipment, training scenes, and barracks life. Likely added by the original owner. The photographs are mounted on original black album pages and appear untouched since the pre-war era. Album cover and binding show noticeable wear consistent with age. No major losses or removed photographs observed. Honest and stable for a pre-WWII private album. Historical & Collecting Value. This album offers a. Coherent, first-hand visual record. Of a specific Imperial Guard unit during the interwar period. It is well suited for. Researchers of Imperial Japan. Photo and archival collections. Museums or reference libraries. This item is offered strictly as a. No restoration or alteration has been performed. International Buyers – Please Note. Thank you for your understanding.