Born in Germany, Genthe pursued formal education in the field of philology before immigrating to San Francisco to work as a tutor. Drawn to the expansive Chinatown in the city, he began practicing photography, learning to be subtle in order to capture the genuine expressions of the neighborhood’s diverse characters. Japan 100 years ago was a nation in the midst of transformation—modernizing rapidly, experimenting with democracy, and redefining its identity within a changing world. It was a dynamic era that laid the foundation for much of Japan’s political, cultural, and economic development throughout the 20th century.
One hundred years ago, Japan was undergoing a profound transformation. The 1920s—near the end of the Taishō era (1912–1926)—represented a unique moment when democratic ideals, cultural experimentation, and rapid modernization intersected with economic challenges and rising nationalism. It was a decade of optimism and turbulence, shaped by both Western influence and traditional Japanese values.
