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Description
This is an official, non-public photo album published in 1929 (Showa 4) to commemorate the Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Showa.
In pre-war Imperial Japan, Emperor Showa was not only the head of state but the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy.
The enthronement ceremony therefore marked the formal transfer of supreme military command, making this event a crucial moment in Japan’s military and political history.
■ Nature of the Album
This album was not commercially sold.
It was privately issued by Kyosai Seimei Insurance Company and distributed only to related officials and institutions.
Its purpose was not decorative, but documentary and institutional—to preserve the official record of a national and military ceremony tied directly to imperial authority and command structure.
■ Cover Inscription (Original Text)
The gold-stamped cover reads:
- Gotairei Kinen Shashincho
(Imperial Enthronement Commemorative Photo Album) - Kyosai Seimei Insurance Company
The album features a cloth-bound cover with gold lettering, typical of formal military and imperial publications of the era.
■ Contents (Military & Historical Value)
The album contains a wide range of official photographs and documents, including:
- Formal portraits of Emperor Showa and Empress Kojun
- Enthronement ceremony processions and rituals
- Military formations, guards, and ceremonial troops
- Security arrangements and controlled urban spaces
- Crowds under strict supervision
- Detailed map of the Kyoto Imperial Palace complex
- Official explanatory texts and event records
The presence of military uniforms, formations, command hierarchy, and ceremonial discipline clearly reflects the emperor’s role as supreme military authority.
This is not a simple commemorative book—it is a visual record of state power and military legitimacy in early Showa Japan.
■ Publication Details
The colophon clearly states:
- Printed: April 15, 1929
- Issued: April 17, 1929
- Marked: Non-Public / Not for Sale
These details confirm the album as a primary historical source, not a later reproduction.
■ Condition
Expected age-related wear is present, including light toning and minor paper waviness.
There are no major tears or missing pages, and the album remains fully usable for study and display.
For a pre-war military and imperial document, the condition is comparatively well preserved.
■ Summary (For Collectors & Researchers)
This album represents:
- Emperor Showa as Supreme Commander of Japan’s armed forces
- The enthronement as a formal transfer of military authority
- A non-public, institutional publication
- A rare visual record of imperial ceremony, military order, and state control
Highly recommended for collectors of Imperial Japanese military history,
as well as researchers focusing on command structure, state ritual, and pre-WWII Japan.
Shipping
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