Here is a collection of Japanese advertisements for drinks and smokes (1894-1954).
Hero Cigarettes, 1894
Tokio Beer, 1896-1906
Chūyū Cigarettes, 1900
Peacock Cigarettes, 1902
Kabuto Beer, 1911
Dai Nippon Brewery Company, 1912
Kembang Beer (Sakura Beer export label), 1912-1916
Sakura Beer, 1924
Umegatani sake, 1926
Sakura Beer, 1928-1932
Cascade Beer, 1929
Yebisu Beer, 1930
Minori Cigarettes, 1930
"Tobacco Profits for National Defense" Week, 1930 // Hibiki Cigarettes, 1932
Urara Cigarettes, 1932
Kirin Beer, 1933
Zuigan sake, 1934
Takara shōchū, 1935-1938
Gekkeikan sake, 1935-1938
"Defense for country, tobacco for society" (South Kyoto Tobacco Sellers' Union), 1937
Sakura Beer, 1938
Kirin Beer, 1939
Anti-black market poster (violators face 3 years in prison, 50,000 yen fine), 1948
Message from Japan Monopoly Corporation, 1954
[Sources: Tabako Omoshiro Catalog Zukan (Kodansha, 1987) and Meiji/Taisho/Showa O-Sake No Hōkoku Graffiti (Kokusho, 2006)]
Cryptnotic
Amazing. Very cool.
Also interesting is how much of the text is written right to left horizontally. You don't see that ever anymore... unless it's deliberately to look old-timey.
[]Avery
You do see it on the side of uyoku trucks, haha.
Thank you for scanning this stuff, the scans are high quality and tell stories that official histories never do!
[]Normal Ioi Fyp
Some of these poster designs are stunning. I'm curious about that last picture, and the details of the law.
[]Stefan
I'm also curious about this last picture. What's this law about, and what's this "Japanese Monopoly Corporation" ?
[]Dan Ryan
This blog is so superior, and I love this post. Thanks, Dan
[]chak
wonderfull ! very good post !
[]BalloonCat
What's the deal with the Dai Nippon Brewery Company poster---were Asahi, Sapporo, and Yebisu originally all the same company??
[]beni_hitori
Wikipedia says that Osaka Beer (Asahi's predecessor), Nihon Beer (the then brewery of Ebisu beer) and Sapporo Beer consolidated into Dai Nihon Beer Brewery Company in 1906.
[]The company continued enlargement including the merger with Sakura Beer. In 1949, the order of GHQ aiming at zaibatsu dissoltion made the mega company devided into Asahi Beer and Nihon Beer (current Sapporo Holdings).
lordofthegadflies
Interesting to see that some of the companies mentioned (such as Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo) are still in business. Kirin even uses the same logo.
[]In ultra-conservative '20s Japan, the Sakura Beer ad, featuring a smiling model sporting barely-concealed breasts, must have been considered racy indeed...
Amelia
I can't get the giant elephant and his giant beer out of my mind. :)
[]MrDOB
Yes the elephant got me as well. Must have been powerful imagery for late Meji people to see an exotic elephant high above holding an exotic intoxicating beverage.
I know I feel like an elephant after I've downed a few myself.
[]goldtime
There was a time in the past when smoking was almost compulsory for men! Now a day , when you want to light up a cigarette, you nearly have to hide somewhere. But thank God, the beer is still OK, :-).
[]adjoun
beautiful series. even some homo-eroticism there in the sailors lightning eachothers cigarettes ;)
[]lamarde
I like very much these images, thanks for sharing. Some of them appear in this video about vintage smoking ads from Japan.
[]Xamuel
Amazing to see how the ads progressed through time. Also I'm a bit surprised how much the Japanese were imitating the west (katakana and outright romaji) years before MacArthur crushed them under his boot...
[]Tomas
Great post. Do you know if I can buy prints of these posters? I particularly like the Peacock Cigarettes one.
[]Megan
Any idea where I can pick up either of these books?
[]Storm
It must just be my dirty mind, but is the Kabuto beer woman simply holding a samurai helmet?
It looks like shes getting eaten out by a samurai in full armor!
Pretty bad ass if you ask me, another reason to buy the beer!!!
-Storm
[]Kecen
Interesting how the ads got more militaristic during the 30's; can't say I've seen any of these before. I like the fruity dress on the 1939 Kirin Beer ad, teehee.
[]Ben Candelaria
Nippon Beer, later becoming Sapporo Beer gets my vote for the best tasting beer In Japan while I was there from July 1950 until August 1953. I tasted many others that were popular at the time but I always returned to Sapporo Beer. Very good taste and extremely refreshing!
[]Katie AkaTako
Yet another great post by Pink Tentacle! I wish all blogs were as great as this one. :)
[]Steven
I love Japan and their vintage beer posters,does any body know where you can order some?
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