When you think of Japan, what image bubbles up in your head?

What about Japan from just a few years ago?

Well, wonder no more because Michael Rogge has a good collection of videos showing how different Japanese society used to be in the 50s and 60s compared to today. There’s more to his list if wanna see lots but sutiben cherry pick a few nice ones.

Take a look.

A day in Tokyo (東京), Japan 1963

*Looks at Youtube video closely* Japanese mummies used to personally go wakey wakey to kids back then? (-_-)zzz That’s different from today! Takes mummy holding nose to wake up sutiben. Times do change.

Japanese kimono (着物) painted & hand dyed w/ stencil plates in Kyoto

Looks like a lot of skill needed to make. If sutiben was in charge of manufacturing kimonos, there’d only be smiley faces decorations. *looks at floor* ‘tis all sutiben knows… but you’d buy one, right?

Television comes to Japan & hooks people with Sumo wrestling & soap series

Your money should always be on the bigger sumo wrestler. Always. Big people have gravity on their side…

Oh, and did you see the big rotating tv antenna? Waaaaah, Japan influence even reaches rap ^_^

Morihei Ueshiba demonstrates Aikido (合気道) in the Shinjuku dojo of the Aikido Foundation

{^^;) Sutiben no need learn aikido, least with 100% no fail proven system: if opponent is boy, go for the magical kick but if girl, says u no believe in fighting girls and then walk away with smile in face.

日本の絹の刺繍: 1958 Japanese silk embroidery in Kobe

Mummy: I bought some lovely slik cloths for everyone.
*30 minutes later*
Mummy: Where’s your silk?
Sutiben: Doggy ate it…
Mummy: We don’t hav… *looks over at corner & sees a dirty cloth with mud*

寺かご製造: Hand made Japanese Mikoshi by special craftsmen in 1960

Whole village would be mad mad at sutiben on Shinto temple festival days. Somehow would find self inside those Japanese temple palanquins.

昭和の日本: Student misery in old Japan 1960

In 1960 students in Osaka lived in dormitories for their examinations. In Tokyo students worked till late at night for their entrance examinations upon which their whole future life depended. Resulting in rebellion and political engagement. Amongst them the world’s highest suicide stats

On exam days, sutiben is one of the first already tucked in bed. (*^_^*)

日本語の愛、自然昭和の時代: Japanese embrace nature in the fifties

In Tokyo Japanese celebrate blossoming of the cherrytrees.

In West Japan on Mt. Rokko youngsters carry shrines.

In Minoo monkeys are being watched and under the maple leaves a tea ceremony performed.

*hides huge pile of crumpled paper under bed*

Yokohama (横浜), Japan, 100 years ago

Yokohama was the first place I visited in Japan in 1953 (see the vid of my cruise from Hong Kong to Japan), so did many travelers before me when their cruise ship arrived. They sent picture postcards like these to their friends. They show us a world that has disappeared completely.

日本の生活文化: Japanese life and culture in 1963

A white collar worker returns home to his family. His income is US$ 2000 a year. Yet he seems comfortable of. His son goes to college. The roots of their life is embedded in the refined Japanese culture, so far removed from the complexities of the industrial boom that was about to explode.

This no different from sutiben’s refined lifestyle either. Not at all. Suti also has a tv during din din time… hehe

日本の産業: Japan’s industries in 1963. Obsolete by now

A bird’s eye view of Japanese industries 48 years ago. Much of the labour force has now been taken over by robots. Its products are obsolete by now and the industry drastically renovated or outplaced in overseas countries. Reclamation is undertaken to establish new factory sites. Finally there is a last glimpse of the domestic home manufacture, which at one time was of great importance.

The manufacture of anime still holds on strong …

日本の旅行: Traveling thru Japan in 1948

An American army officer travels thru Japan in the occupation era right after the war. His film is of bad quality, alas.

昔の日本: Japanese firewalking ceremony

For the Hiwatari firewalking ceremony mountain monks go in retreat for weeks. They enter the compound blowing conch shells. The purifying powers of ax, water, fire and salt are evoked.

Prefer heating up foot soles by walking on beach sand on sunny day. ‘tis about the same.