
Helping to clean the floors at school
Came across these wonderful drawings in a small museum in Yokohama that depicted the Showa era of Japan, a time when people were struggling to create the Japanese economic miracle.
I thought the drawings captured the essence of Japan at that time really well. I hope the author does not mind me sharing these drawings with you. I am trying to locate the book or cards for these so that I can buy a copy. They are really wonderful.

Playing wih the ramune bottles trying to get the marble to come out.

The hot kettle (yakan) was always ready for a quick meal.

Left alone to look after the house when both parents were out working.

Helping at home while the parents were working.

When in trouble at school, one had to stand in the corridor with pales of water as punishment.

Not so many people or buildings around as now.
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... Comments Below ...
These illustrations are indeed very cute, charming and fun to look at. Thanks for sharing them! I hope you can locate the artist’s info^^
I found the website just now, but it has not been updated since 2007 and does not have any info about these drawings. I will keep looking.
RT @tweetmeme Showa Drawings, Japan Culture | Shibuya246 http://bit.ly/8q3Hw2 Simple photos can always say the most things.The one photo that brought back memories, is the punishment one. When I was in the Marine Corp. During boot camp they had a punisnment simular to that in which you had to hold out the buckets at arms lenght and yell out why you wanted to be a Marine.
If you dropped the water bucket and the teacher saw you the trouble got bigger and bigger
I used to make lemonade myself.
I used to make ginger beer at school in England and loved it
Beer? Was that even legal at that time??
ok
. There was no actual alcohol content. It was like a Ginger Ale, but in England we call it Ginger Beer.
suppose it’s kind of like Root Beer?
the drawings reminded me of drawing done at Manzanar War Relocation Center during 1943 – 43 by an internee – they depicted life at the camp school. can’t recall the person’s name at the moment. a portfolio of his work is in the Eastern California Museum in Independence, California.
oops should have been 1942 – 43
Kango Takamura was the person I was trying to remember – he worked for the RKO studios in Hollywood before 1941 and returned to work for them after 1945. He also created a large mural (a triptych) depicting Genji in combat, the painting is in storage at the Eastern California Museum.
Thanks. I will look him up on Google and check it out
nice picture of the old radio. has a really warm feel to it.
view on photoThe foldup tabe waiting to be put out for dinner
view on photoI like the color on these bags
view on photoThis is a nice find! It really give a glimpse of the history of how Japan come about.
love the illustration, love the color, love the characters … (^.^)
Thank you for sharing these. I really enjoyed them.