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 a vendor selling eel. Affixed to the reverse is a paper label with the caption reading:

"vendor’s sign in the Shinmachi-bashi district of Osaka that reads “the Dog Days are coming for West (West meaning the Kansai district of Japan); on the 21st, special price for unagi (eel), Yawata-maki-mochi (name of Osaka style eel recipe). Publishing date: July 21, 1931."

Taken by a staff photographer of the Osaka Asahi Shimbun, still one of Japan's leading newspapers to this day. 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 overall condition is very good but there are as few very minor creases in the white margin areas of the print as well as four small pinholes in the corner margins from when this print was displayed in public. These pinholes are so small they are hard to see (see below).