These five women posing in the photographer’s studio as if having tea at home look a bit forlorn. Maybe the photographer took a bit too much time?

Photographs like this one were known as Yokohama Shashin (ФЁЄФµњЕ†™Гњџ, Yokohama Photographs) and were geared at the tourist market.

Today, few people in Tokyo will recognize this impressive Mayan Revival-style building with its wide courtyard and reflecting pool. But between 1923 (Taisho 12) and 1968 (Showa 43) it was Tokyo’s top luxury establishment, the Imperial Hotel (Её«Е»ЅЦѓ»Цѓ†Цѓ«, Teikoku Hotel) located in Hibiya. The hotel was one of six buildings that legendary American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867БЂ“1959) built in Japan.

A studio portrait of a young basket maker wearing a head band using bamboo to weave a basket. All around him are his bamboo products, which include draining baskets (Г¬Љ, zaru), winnowing baskets (Г®•, mi), and noodle-draining baskets (ИҐ‚Иё©Ф‰“ЦЃЎДёЉЦЃ’ГЇ­, udon uchiage kago).

A street vendor carrying brooms (箒) balanced on a carrying pole. To protect himself from the elements, he is wearing a broad bamboo hat, known as a bachoukasa (バッチョウ笠). Vendors like him used special calls to make potential customers aware of their arrival.