Torii and Streetcar at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Taishô period, circa 1925
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Edition:
- Self-printed
- Source:
- Harvard Art Museums
Description
"Torii and Streetcar at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo," from around 1925 (Taisho period), captures the quintessential visual paradox of modern Japan: the ancient stone torii gate framing the modern electric streetcar in the same visual field. This juxtaposition — Shinto sacred form and Western technology — was among the defining visual experiences of Taisho-era Tokyo, where the old city coexisted with rapid modernization. The streetcar running past the shrine gate became an emblem of the cultural collision that Kawakami depicted throughout his career.
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Torii and Streetcar at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Taishô period, circa 1925 was created by Sumio Kawakami (川上澄生).
Torii and Streetcar at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Taishô period, circa 1925 depicts temples & shrines and torii gates, set at Tokyo.