A postcard

     

Something arrived the other day, a postcard dating from the early 1900′s! I hope it wasn’t urgent. The postcard features a coloured image of Kumamoto castle‘s Uto Turret & is postmarked 12th February 1919.

I wish I knew more about the process of taking the black-and-white image and turning it into the postcard we see before us. The colouring certainly improves the visual appeal, but it does also aide in the discerning of some of the details of the 400-plus-year-old building – details that might have been obscured without the splashes of colour.

You’ll notice at the top, left of the postcard it says Kumamoto Castle, Higo. I found this kind of interesting seeing as the old provinces were abolished in 1871, Higo (肥後国) becoming Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本県). At the bottom of the card,（熊本百景）熊本城宇土の櫓 - (100 scenes of Kumamoto) The Uto Turret of Kumamoto castle.

The back of the postcard tells its own story, its reason for existing I guess. It was sent from Kumamoto city by a gentleman hoping to make contact with someone in Sydney, Australia. Below, I've typed out the message in full. I've neglected to add any [sic]‘s. Hey, no-one's perfect. Is anyone able to make sense of the Please send me… sentence?

Dear Sir,

I have learned your esteemed name from U.S.C.E. club. I should like so much to keep up a exchange with you. Please send me view of magnificent Bank in your localty. Trust you like this view.

Your truly,

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Lonny-Chick/696706084 Lonny Chick

    Sweet find!

  • http://twitter.com/Tornadoes28 Jon L

    Very cool. Yes, interesting that they still referred to it as Higo. I suppose it took a while for people to give up the old names.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Lonny. Absolutely. It was a real surprise when I saw it. I’ll have to thank my Mum again.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Lonny. Absolutely. It was a real surprise when I saw it. I’ll have to thank my Mum again.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks Lonny. Absolutely. It was a real surprise when I saw it. I’ll have to thank my Mum again.

  • Anonymous

    That did strike me as very odd, 30 – 40 years is a fair chunk of time.

  • Anonymous

    That did strike me as very odd, 30 – 40 years is a fair chunk of time.

  • Anonymous

    That did strike me as very odd, 30 – 40 years is a fair chunk of time.

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Is it that strange? People around here still refer to this area as Mikawa instead of Aichi, and that area over there as Owari. Maybe this area is just unique in that people view the historic names as too important to give up? I dunno. You guys know more on Japanese history than I do, I think, just an observation.

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Is it that strange? People around here still refer to this area as Mikawa instead of Aichi, and that area over there as Owari. Maybe this area is just unique in that people view the historic names as too important to give up? I dunno. You guys know more on Japanese history than I do, I think, just an observation.

  • Anonymous

    I am surprised that people stil say Mikawa & Owari, and I think it’s kinda cool. I guess coming from a country that is too young to have seen any major name changes, it’s all a little odd to me at least.

    I do like the old names. I like that I live in Hizen. :)

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Having not done my research before moving here way back when i had no idea what mikawa or owari was. People kept using those terms when referring to other people and places and I was always like… What, huh, where?

    I know what you mean about history. Coming from a place with a few hundred years of history at most into a place with over a thousand… It’s a different experience.

    I prefer the old names too, but I suspect that is only because they are old.

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Having not done my research before moving here way back when i had no idea what mikawa or owari was. People kept using those terms when referring to other people and places and I was always like… What, huh, where?

    I know what you mean about history. Coming from a place with a few hundred years of history at most into a place with over a thousand… It’s a different experience.

    I prefer the old names too, but I suspect that is only because they are old.

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Having not done my research before moving here way back when i had no idea what mikawa or owari was. People kept using those terms when referring to other people and places and I was always like… What, huh, where?

    I know what you mean about history. Coming from a place with a few hundred years of history at most into a place with over a thousand… It’s a different experience.

    I prefer the old names too, but I suspect that is only because they are old.

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Having not done my research before moving here way back when i had no idea what mikawa or owari was. People kept using those terms when referring to other people and places and I was always like… What, huh, where?

    I know what you mean about history. Coming from a place with a few hundred years of history at most into a place with over a thousand… It’s a different experience.

    I prefer the old names too, but I suspect that is only because they are old.

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Having not done my research before moving here way back when i had no idea what mikawa or owari was. People kept using those terms when referring to other people and places and I was always like… What, huh, where?

    I know what you mean about history. Coming from a place with a few hundred years of history at most into a place with over a thousand… It’s a different experience.

    I prefer the old names too, but I suspect that is only because they are old.

  • http://JapanDave.com David LaSpina / JapanDave

    Having not done my research before moving here way back when i had no idea what mikawa or owari was. People kept using those terms when referring to other people and places and I was always like… What, huh, where?

    I know what you mean about history. Coming from a place with a few hundred years of history at most into a place with over a thousand… It’s a different experience.

    I prefer the old names too, but I suspect that is only because they are old.

  • Anonymous

    When i think of the old names, Owari, Mikawa, Hizen, I think Samurai. When I think Aichi, Saga, I think politicians. Hmmm… which one’s cooler? I just don’t know any cool politicians.