Collections
A fleet of change Japan’s maritime history in postcards
The museum’s Vaughan Evans Library holds several collections of maritime postcards, including a striking historical series by Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK Line) from the early 1900s. Linda Bretherton has revealed some of the stories within them.
A REMARKABLE POSTCARD COLLECTION in the museum’s library offers a poignant glimpse into a bygone era. Offering more than mere visual appeal, it reflects complex narratives spanning from the 1600s to today. Blending traditional Japanese aesthetics with images of a growing maritime empire, these postcards reveal the evolution of Japan’s international trade, travel and cultural identity. Isolation and reopening: Japan’s maritime transformation
In 1636, the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate enacted Sakoku, a policy of national isolation that banned ocean-going shipbuilding and restricted Japanese citizens travelling overseas. Aimed at preserving internal stability and cultural traditions, it effectively impeded foreign influence. Before this, Japanese vessels had sailed across Southeast Asia and possibly as far as northern Australia. This isolation ended with the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry in 1853, when his technologically advanced US fleet revealed how far Japan had fallen behind the West. In response, Japan began lifting restrictions – permitting shipbuilding and the purchase of foreign vessels – and opening to trade. A commercial treaty with the USA followed in 1858, and by 1862, Japanese citizens were allowed to travel abroad. 74
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Global trade and the rise of NYK
The Pacific Mail Steamship Company, an American firm, entered Japan in 1867, marking a shift in Pacific trade. The Meiji government took power in 1868, embracing modernisation and international engagement. From 1870 onward, Japan launched initiatives to develop its national fleet, culminating in the establishment in 1885 of the semi-government-owned Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK). The Meiji era (1868–1912) ushered in sweeping political, economic and social reforms, propelling Japan into the global community. Postcards and cultural exchange
Japan’s national postal system was introduced in 1871, followed by postcards in 1873. Initially government controlled, postcards were modelled on Austria– Hungary’s plain, typographic style. By the 1880s and 1890s, illustrated (and later photographic) postcards gained popularity in Europe. Japan followed suit. In 1900, the government relinquished control over postcard design, encouraging Japanese artists to shape the medium. This coincided with growing Western interest in Japanese aesthetics and a domestic embrace of Western influences. Postcards became a dynamic blend of traditional motifs and innovation. Mass produced and visually rich, they became a promotional tool, conveying a modern Japanese identity.