In the late 19th and early 20th century, enigmatic photographer T. Enami (1859-1929) captured a number of 3D stereoviews depicting life in Meiji-period Japan.



[Sumo wrestlers]

A stereoview consists of a pair of nearly identical images that appear three-dimensional when viewed through a stereoscope, because each eye sees a slightly different image. This illusion of depth can also be recreated with animated GIFs like the ones here, which were created from Flickr images posted by Okinawa Soba. Follow the links under each animation for the original stereoviews and background information.



[Meeting at gate]



[Buddhist ornament dealer]



[Geisha washing their hands in the garden]



[Chujenji Road, Nikko]



[Geisha playing music]



[Firewood dealers]



[Great Buddha of Kamakura]



[Torii gates at Inari shrine, Kyoto]



[Geisha girls with flowers and cat]



[Traveler in the mountain fog near Chujenji]



[Clam diggers having lunch]



[Tokyo Industrial Exposition, Ueno Park, 1907]



[Campfire on the peak of Mt. Myogi, Nakasendo]



[Geisha in a tearoom]



[Kitano temple, Kyoto]



[Road along the Fuji river]



[Geisha drinking beer in the park]



[Buddhist priest in full dress]



[Geisha looking at stereoviews]