A Leica IIIc in Japan, 1949, with Kodachrome

[Gordon Coale]

In 1949 my grandfather was stationed in Morioka, Japan as part of the Occupation. He took his new Leica IIIc and Summitar and shot Kodachrome. I am eternally grateful that he shot Kodachrome. I am halfway through scanning the 44 slides he had in one of his slide trays of his time in Japan. They can be seen here: http://gordoncoale.500px.com/my_grandfather_s_photos. I should have the rest of the scans done in the next week. Here is one of them:

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Thank you for sharing your grandfather's photos Gordon.
It's truly a window into Post-war Japan.

 

[maddoc]

Thanks a lot for sharing these !! 🙂 It is very rare to see color-photos from that time in Japan so very interesting to see what has changed and what not so much. Looking forward to some more !

 

[jbielikowski]

fantastic!

 

[helen.HH]

Thanks for posting...wonderful to get a Glimpse back in Time

 

[Paulbe]

Gordon--thanks for posting these! They are grand.
Did your grandmother have a role in the school system there?
Thanks again!
Paul

 

[Lawrence Sheperd]

Just fantastic, Gordon! You've inspired me to take another stab at digitizing the several thousand of my father's Kodachrome stereo-mounted slides.

 

[deepminnow]

That's a wonderful collection and window in time. Thanks for sharing.

 

[dogbunny]

I enjoyed them. Thanks for sharing.

db

 

[Zhemin]

Thank You so much for sharing.

 

[Gordon Coale]

Did your grandmother have a role in the school system there?

My grandfather was a Lt. Colonel in the Army in charge of the Occupation in Morioka and the surrounding area. In that capacity, as the Colonel's wife, my grandmother was probably there, at what appears to be some award ceremony, as a very important person. Of course my grandfather was there taking the pictures.

 

[Montag006]

Gordon I'd like to add my thanks for your sharing your Grandfather's fantastic Kodachrome photos from Japan. It's an incredible view of life then and over there.

David

 

[furcafe]

Cool! Did he pick up some of those fancy new Nikon lenses for cheap during his stint?

In 1949 my grandfather was stationed in Morioka, Japan as part of the Occupation. He took his new Leica IIIc and Summitar and shot Kodachrome. I am eternally grateful that he shot Kodachrome. I am halfway through scanning the 44 slides he had in one of his slide trays of his time in Japan. They can be seen here: http://gordoncoale.500px.com/my_grandfather_s_photos. I should have the rest of the scans done in the next week. Here is one of them:

s

 

[Tom A]

Thanks for putting those Kodachromes up. The quality is still amazing, even after long time. They must have been stored reasonably well as there seems to be very little damage to them.
Now, if he had been shooting digital - wonder if they would have held up so well after 60+ years.
Eagerly awaiting the result of your next scanning session.

 

[Jan Pedersen]

Another thank you for posting these photographs.
Very interesting to see how life unfolds so shortly after the war ended there.

 

[Gordon Coale]

Cool! Did he pick up some of those fancy new Nikon lenses for cheap during his stint?

He gave me his Leica IIIc but it only had the crummy Summitar. 🙂

 

[Jack Conrad]

Excellent thread. Thanks, Gordon.

 

[Maiku]

The photo titled School Scene is an event at an elementary school`s Sports Day. They still play the exact same game today on Sports Day. Nothing ever changes in Japan.

 

[Bingley]

Thanks for posting and please post more!

Are you shooting with the IIIc and Summitar? (I hope).

 

[hausen]

Man I love that old school colour. Those are superb, thanks for taking the time.