Showing 161–200 of 489 postcards

  • Tokyo, Sumida River

    So many of the old Japanese postcards don’t give good views of groups of people.  This one does.  Unused, Grade: 2

    Code: 20311171

    Price: $8.00

    Tokyo, Sumida River
  • Okinawa, Shima no Iro

    After Googling this, we are as much in the dark as before.  Does “Shima no Iro” mean “silent colour”?  Card was mailed in year #27 (2008), and stamp and postmark are there.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311172

    Price: $3.00

    Okinawa, Shima no Iro
  • Actor

    With thanks to Chris and to Tomizawa-san, for suppling and educating, we weren’t able to translate the extensive old-fashioned pencilled notations on the reverse of this unmailed card.  We think it dates from 1929.  If you are an expert on classical Japanese, let us know and we will send a scan of the reverse to you.  The card is separating from itself, but not yet split.  Grade: 4

    Code: 20311173

    Price: $14.00

    Actor
  • Very large kimono

    In the absence of other information, what would you call this?  Friend Tomizawa-san said:  “The date on the card suggests it was written probably sometime in 1945-47.  Among the Chinese characters I can spot Kyoto and Oiso, a well-known, upscale coastal residential area, which is a one-hour train ride from Tokyo.”  This comes from penciled notations on the reverse of this unmailed card.  Grade: 4

    Code: 20311174

    Price: $16.00

    Very large kimono
  • Kikugoro Onoe

    From the extensive pencilled notation on the unmailed card’s reverse, our friend Tomizawa comments:  “…June 9th, 1933, probably the date it was written, and Kikugoro Onoe at Osaka Kabukiza.  Kikugoro Onoe is a very famous male Japanese kabuki actor who is dressed in kimono to act as a woman.  Kikugoro Onoe as we have today is the 7th in succession.  I have no idea from the writing where this Kikugoro Onoe sits in the succession line.”  Well, Tomizawa-san, neither do we!  Grade: 4

    Code: 20311175

    Price: $24.00

    Kikugoro Onoe
  • Yaeko Mizutani

    Completing our short series of unmailed artistic cards, Tomizawa-san offers:  “All I can read is the year 1929, Yaeko Mizutani, and geijyutsu-sha.  Yaeko Mizutani is a well-known Japanese actress, who led Japanese theater activities some 70 years ago in an attempt to emulate modern European styles.  Geijyutsu-sha, I guess, is the name of the organization she belonged to.”  All this derives from the pencilled notations on the reverse.  Grade: 4

    Code: 20311176

    Price: $24.00

    Yaeko Mizutani
  • Mt. Fuji in midwinter

    Mailed in 2011 with stamp and full, if faint, postmark.  Airmail sticker affixed.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311177

    Price: $2.00

    Mt. Fuji in midwinter
  • Sapporo Aspen Hotel (nesting owls)

    One of a series of unused cards featuring owls.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311178

    Price: $2.00

    Sapporo Aspen Hotel (nesting owls)
  • Sapporo Aspen Hotel (owl in totem)

    One of a series of unused cards featuring owls.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311179

    Price: $2.00

    Sapporo Aspen Hotel (owl in totem)
  • Sapporo Aspen Hotel (two owls)

    One of a series of unused cards featuring owls.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311180

    Price: $2.00

    Sapporo Aspen Hotel (two owls)
  • Sapporo Aspen Hotel (owl on branch)

    One of a series of unused cards featuring owls.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311181

    Price: $2.00

    Sapporo Aspen Hotel (owl on branch)
  • Sapporo Aspen Hotel (owl in character)

    One of a series of unused cards featuring owls.  If we still have all five, and you want them all, you may have the set for $6.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311182

    Price: $2.00

    Sapporo Aspen Hotel (owl in character)
  • Osaka, ATC & WTC

    Contemporary card mailed in 2011 with two stamps, Osaka postmark, and blue trilingual airmail label affixed.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311183

    Price: $2.00

    Osaka, ATC & WTC
  • Nara, Todaiji Daibutsu

    The caption on this postcard, mailed in 2011 with five different stamps and multiple if illegible postmarks, explains that the statue was erected in 752, is 16.2 meters high, and weighs 500 tons.  They were busy in 752.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311184

    Price: $6.00

    Nara, Todaiji Daibutsu
  • Pictorial Map of Japan

    Mailed in 2011 with stamp, full Sendai postmark, and airmail sticker affixed.  Slight, almost imperceptible staining on the front.  Grade: 3

    Code: 20311185

    Price: $7.00

    Pictorial Map of Japan
  • Ukiyoe: Hokusai (set) – front

    Cardboard-wrapped set of five cards plus the set’s cover, of which this scan shows the front.  See 20311186B for the reverse.  For those unfamiliar with Ukiyo-e, we give full credit to Wikipedia for what we repeat here: 

    Ukiyo-e (浮世絵 literally “pictures of the floating world”?) is a genre of Japanese woodblock prints (or woodcuts) and paintings produced between the 17th and the 20th centuries, featuring motifs of landscapes, tales from history, the theatre, and pleasure quarters. It is the main artistic genre of woodblock printing in Japan.

    Hokusai was a famous artist (1760-1849).  Unused cards.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311186A

    Price: $16.00

    Ukiyoe: Hokusai (set) – front
  • Ukiyoe: Hokusai (set) – reverse

    See 20311186A for details.  This reverse scan shows the five primary cards.

    Code: 20311186B

    Price: $16.00

    Ukiyoe: Hokusai (set) – reverse
  • Ukiyoe: Sharaku & Kunisada (set) – front

    See 20311186A for basic details.  Sharaku and Kunisada were two other famous artists who overlapped with Kunisada.  Five unused cards plus cover.  Grades: 1

    Code: 20311187A

    Price: $16.00

    Ukiyoe: Sharaku & Kunisada (set) – front
  • Ukiyoe: Sharaku & Kunisada (set) – reverse

    See 20311186A for basic details.  Sharaku and Kunisada were two other famous artists who overlapped with Kunisada.  Five unused cards plus cover, of which this is the reverse.  Grades: 1

    Code: 20311187B

    Price: $16.00

    Ukiyoe: Sharaku & Kunisada (set) – reverse
  • Kyoto, Rock garden of Ryoan-ji

    Mailed in 2011 with three stamps, and airmail and address labels affixed.  Grade: 3

    Code: 20311188

    Price: $1.00

    Kyoto, Rock garden of Ryoan-ji
  • New Tokyo International Airport

    Also known as Narita, this airport is so far away from being new (and so far away from Tokyo) that the old Haneda facility is now starting to accept a broader range of international flights.  It’s about time.  Mailed in 2011 with two stamps, postmark, and trilingual blue Air Mail sticker affixed.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311189

    Price: $4.00

    New Tokyo International Airport
  • Kyoto, Autumn tints at Tofukuji Temple

    Mailed in 2012 with three stamps and full postmark, this card measures 4-5/8″ x 7-1/4″ and the writer has kindly provided a long explanation in English on the reverse.  Light blue trilingual air mail sticker and address label affixed.  Grade:  3

    Code: 20311190

    Price: $4.00

    Kyoto, Autumn tints at Tofukuji Temple
  • Tokaido Shinkansen, Nozomi

    This busy card was mailed in 2011 with two different stamps and mostly illegible postmark.  It has a small sticker of a woman in a kimono on the reverse, and the card itself is printed with a map of the train’s route.  Only because of the sticker, Grade: 3

    Code: 20311191

    Price: $5.00

    Tokaido Shinkansen, Nozomi
  • Yokohama Marine Tower and NYK Hikawamaru

    Mailed in 2012 with two different stamps and mostly but not entirely legible postmark.  Some postmark ink transfer and definite abrasion on the front (that doesn’t show in the scan, but it’s there).  Grade: 4

    Code: 20311192

    Price: $0.50

    Yokohama Marine Tower and NYK Hikawamaru
  • Kyoto, Yasaka no tou, Hokanji

    Nice photo of this Buddhist tower.  Card was mailed in 2012 with two stamps, and partly legible postmark.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311193

    Price: $3.00

    Kyoto, Yasaka no tou, Hokanji
  • Sirakawago Village, Gifu Prefecture

    As the writer and the caption both point out, this village is known for its farmhouses and distinct steep roofs (rooves?) in the gashozukuri style.  A World Heritage site.  Card was mailed in 2011 with stamp and postmark.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311194

    Price: $5.00

    Sirakawago Village, Gifu Prefecture
  • Furu site, Tenri, Jomon pottery

    … and in Nara Prefecture.  The card was mailed in 2012 with two stamps and legible postmark.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311195

    Price: $3.00

    Furu site, Tenri, Jomon pottery
  • Sapporo, Hokkaido University

    Mailed in 2012, this university postcard has two different stamps, mostly legible postmark, and red airmail chop.  Also one classical sticker on reverse.  Grade: 4

    Code: 20311196

    Price: $2.00

    Sapporo, Hokkaido University
  • Nagasaki, Peace Memorial Museum and Fountain of Peace

    Mailed in 1968 with stamp and partly legible postmark.  Grade: 2

    Code: 20311197

    Price: $3.00

    Nagasaki, Peace Memorial Museum and Fountain of Peace
  • Mt. Fuji, Self Reflection at Dawn

    Mailed in 2012, this Mt. Fuji postcard has two stamps, mostly readable postmark, and blue trilingual Par Avion/address label affixed.  Grade: 3

    Code: 20311198

    Price: $2.00

    Mt. Fuji, Self Reflection at Dawn
  • Nikko National Park, fog

    The captions are in Japanese; the writer tells us the location.  This card was mailed with a round Disney character stamp in 2012, and has full postmark.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311200

    Price: $3.00

    Nikko National Park, fog
  • Hiroshima, Miyajima Water Fireworks Display

    Nice card, mailed in 2012 with two stamps (one very large), postmark, and blue air mail rubber-stamped on.  It’s not the same card as 20311209.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311201

    Price: $4.00

    Hiroshima, Miyajima Water Fireworks Display
  • Hokkaido Centennial Memorial Tower

    Mailed in 2012 with two stamps, postmark, and address and trilingual airmail labels affixed.  Grade: 4

    Code: 20311202

    Price: $2.00

    Hokkaido Centennial Memorial Tower
  • Yokohama, Cosmo Clock 21

    Mailed in 2012 with two stamps, faint postmark, and airmail sticker.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311203

    Price: $3.00

    Yokohama, Cosmo Clock 21
  • River Fujikawa and Mt. Fuji

    Something of a rarity, an old, unused card of Japan that was made in Thailand.  Captioned in Thai and English — but not Japanese.  Aging.  Grade: 2

    Code: 20311204

    Price: $7.00

    River Fujikawa and Mt. Fuji
  • Fireworks Festival of Matsushima

    Mailed in 2012 with three stamps and two postmarks.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311205

    Price: $4.00

    Fireworks Festival of Matsushima
  • Cherry Blossoms and Tokyo Tower

    The traditional and the modern in counterpoint.  Mailed in 2012, two stamps (including Hello Kitty, bless her) and postmark.  Grade: 2

    Code: 20311206

    Price: $3.00

    Cherry Blossoms and Tokyo Tower
  • Kyoto, Ginkakuji Temple

    Mailed in 2012, two stamps and postmark.  Some postal creasing.  Grade: 2

    Code: 20311207

    Price: $2.00

    Kyoto, Ginkakuji Temple
  • Hamamatsu, Okura Act City Hotel, lobby

    The creative lengths hotels will take to make their postcards look different … unused card, mildly smudged on the reverse.  Grade: 2

    Code: 20311208

    Price: $1.00

    Hamamatsu, Okura Act City Hotel, lobby
  • Hiroshima, Itsukushima Shrine, fireworks

    Nice fireworks postcard, mailed in 2012 with a Hello Kitty stamp and postmark.  It’s not the same card as 20311201.  Grade: 1

    Code: 20311209

    Price: $4.00

    Hiroshima, Itsukushima Shrine, fireworks