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Showa Drawings

Helping to clean the floors at school
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.
Playing wih the ramune bottles trying to get the marble to come out.
The hot kettle (yakan) was always ready for a quick meal.
The hot kettle (yakan) was always ready for a quick meal.
Left alone to look after the house when both parents were out working.
Left alone to look after the house when both parents were out working.
Helping at home while the parents were 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.
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.
Not so many people or buildings around as now.

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19 comments

Sara Mari January 21, 2010 at 2:00 am

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^^

Reply
shibuya246 January 21, 2010 at 2:26 am

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.

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whipcracker January 21, 2010 at 3:42 am

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.

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shibuya246 January 21, 2010 at 1:37 pm

If you dropped the water bucket and the teacher saw you the trouble got bigger and bigger 😉

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HELLOSHEENA January 21, 2010 at 6:36 am

I used to make lemonade myself.

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shibuya246 January 21, 2010 at 1:34 pm

I used to make ginger beer at school in England and loved it 🙂

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Neksus January 21, 2010 at 8:44 pm

Beer? Was that even legal at that time??

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shibuya246 January 21, 2010 at 8:47 pm

ok ;). There was no actual alcohol content. It was like a Ginger Ale, but in England we call it Ginger Beer.

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tokyoso January 23, 2010 at 1:12 am

suppose it’s kind of like Root Beer?

salvidali January 21, 2010 at 9:37 am

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.

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salvidali January 21, 2010 at 9:38 am

oops should have been 1942 – 43 😛

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salvidali January 21, 2010 at 12:40 pm

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.

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shibuya246 January 21, 2010 at 1:22 pm

Thanks. I will look him up on Google and check it out 🙂

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shibuya246 January 21, 2010 at 1:05 pm

nice picture of the old radio. has a really warm feel to it.

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shibuya246 January 21, 2010 at 1:12 pm

The foldup tabe waiting to be put out for dinner

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shibuya246 January 21, 2010 at 1:23 pm

I like the color on these bags

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Shockerz January 22, 2010 at 12:18 am

This is a nice find! It really give a glimpse of the history of how Japan come about.

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ăȘおみ February 18, 2010 at 4:07 pm

love the illustration, love the color, love the characters … (^.^)

Reply
janine February 20, 2010 at 10:29 am

Thank you for sharing these. I really enjoyed them.

Reply

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