An important image in regards to the emergence of Japanese documentary photography with smaller hand held cameras.

Description: in the early 1930s the spontaneous style of documentary photography was just emerging in Japan. This was due to the availability of smaller hand held cameras and roll films that provided photographers with greater mobility. This image is an example of this new style and shows an unemployed man soliciting any kind of work available in front of Hanky Department Store, Osaka. Taken by a staff photographer of the Osaka Asahi Shimbun, still one of Japan's leading newspapers to this day. Affixed to the reverse is a paper label providing caption details and the date October 21, 1931.

This print was made by the photographic unit of the Asahi Shimbun called Asahi Photo News. It was produced to promote the newspaper's recent news items and was intended for public dispaly at locations such as Department stores, train stations, local news bureaus and neighborhood delivery stations.

Condition: vintage large format vintage gelatin print. The condition is quite good but the bottom right corner is missing a small portion of the white margin (see below). There are also small push pin holes in three corners. There are two paper labels; one on the reverse with the caption, the other a red credit stamp affixed to the front.