A rare and beautifully printed Japanese photo book featuring over three decades of black‑and‑white photographs of Kyoto, captured by Kiichi Asano between Showa 12 (1937) and Showa 47 (1972). Published by Kyoto Shoin in 1992.
⚠️ CONDITION NOTE (Please Read):
This is a USED vintage photo book from 1992.
Some aging, yellowing, minor wear, and slight dust‑jacket scuffs
are present due to age.
The interior pages and photographs remain in very good condition.
(Japanese: 古本のため、経年による焼け・スレがあります。ご理解のうえご購入ください。)
This stunning large-format book documents the transformation of Kyoto from the late 1930s to the early 1970s through authentic street photography and everyday urban scenes. Asano captures a Kyoto that no longer exists— wooden Machiya townhouses, traditional merchants, streetcars, festivals, snowy landscapes, and the quiet beauty of pre-modern neighborhoods.
Each photograph includes English captions, making this book highly accessible for international readers and collectors. The work provides an invaluable visual record for anyone interested in Japanese history, urban culture, architecture, and Showa-era life.
Kiichi Asano (浅野喜市) A Japanese photographer known for documenting everyday life and cityscapes in Kyoto throughout the mid‑20th century. His work is valued for its historical significance and emotional depth, preserving scenes that have largely disappeared due to modernization and redevelopment.
| Title | 古都 昭和12年〜47年 浅野喜市写真集 / Old Kyoto |
| Photographer | Kiichi Asano |
| Publisher | Kyoto Shoin (京都書院) |
| Publication Date | 1992 |
| Language | Japanese (with English captions) |
| Format | Large Hardcover / Art Photo Book |
| Pages | 105 pages |
| ISBN‑10 | 4763632140 |
| ISBN‑13 | 978-4763632142 |
| Condition | Used – aging, yellowing, minor wear (古本・やけ・スレあり) |
A rare visual record of Kyoto’s lost streets, neighborhoods, and traditions.
A must-have for collectors of Japanese photography and cultural history.
Keywords: Kyoto photo book, Kiichi Asano, Showa era Japan, Japanese photography, Kyoto Shoin, vintage photo book, Japan history, black and white photography, Japanese culture, old Kyoto, street photography, Japan architecture