Optocht met praalwagen en deelnemers 1890 - 1894

This vibrant photograph captures a festival parade with an ornate float and participants. It was taken by Kusakabe Kimbei, who was born in 1841, a time of profound transition in Japan as it moved from a feudal society towards modernization. Kimbei's photographs, often hand-colored, reflect the complex encounter between Japanese identity and Western expectations. The festival depicted here is a cultural performance, yet its presentation through photography introduces a layer of representation, influenced by the gaze of the burgeoning tourist industry. The participants, dressed in traditional garb, embody a sense of communal identity. The photograph serves not only as a record of cultural practices but also as a site where identity is negotiated and performed, both for internal cohesion and external consumption. How do these images shape the narratives we tell ourselves and others about Japanese culture?