1890 Meiji 23 Tsunajima Kamekichi Map of Tokyo, Japan

A striking vividly colored 1890 (Meiji 23) map of Tokyo issued by Tsunajima Kamekichi. The map is oriented to the northwest and centered on the Imperial Palace. The map proper is surrounded by vignette views of important sites in Tokyo. Along the bottom of the map there is a detailed street index.

The Height of Meiji Cartographic Art

Stylistically this map represents the height of the Meiji-era (1868 - 1912) cartographic tradition - where in western style cartographic standards, lithographic printing, and imported inks, were combined with Ukiyo-e color traditions and aesthetic values. This map falls in a cartographic lineage that begins with the Meiji Restoration in 1868 and continued through about 1895. Here, the boldly bright palette likely associates this map with aka-e (赤絵; 'red pictures'), illustrations in vivid color achieved through imported German-made inks. Such maps began to fall out of fashion near the turn of the century, when they were supplanted by more reserved printed color.

Publication History and Census

The map was printed on January 4 and released on January 5, 1890 (Meiji 23) and released on January 5. It was published by Tsunajima Kamekichi (綱島亀吉) and printed by Haruemon Yoda (依田治右ヱ門). We are aware of only one other example - in the collections of the National Diet Library, Tokyo.