9 replies to this topic

[Hannah Sigur]

Hello All,
I've stumbled across you and am so happy to have found a convivial group of exposition aficionados. I'm writing my dissertation on Japanese architecture at World's Fairs, mainly in the US 1876-1915, but in the course of this have to think about a few in Europe as well. I have the very clear photo of the Satsuma pavilion at the 1867 fair, but cannot find any images of the "Japanese Farm." Also, a map of the fair plan, so that I can locate where on the grounds these buildings were located.

Looking forward to any and every suggestion,
Hannah Sigur

[worldsfairent]

Welcome Hannah. Sounds like a fascinating dissertation. Some nice photos here of the Drum Bridge constructed for the Japanese Tea Garden at the 1894 California Midwinter Exposition in San Francisco: http://www.nakatanifamily.com/

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[Jim]

I do not know if this is helpful but there is an excellent website for the 1901 Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY. It is called "Doing The Pan." This site has a page devoted to the Japanese exhibit known as Fair Japan. It describes the exhibit, the construction materials, the activities within etc. Perhaps it would be of use in your project.

[Randy Treadway]

Jim, on 22 February 2012 - 07:25 PM, said:

This site has a page devoted to the Japanese exhibit known as Fair Japan.

Interesting--- the name 'Fair Japan' was used again at other expos over the next 10 years....

[Jim]

I did not realize that. It is also interesting (and more evidence of the enthnocentricity of 19th and early 20th Century expositions) that Fair Japan was located in the amusement area of the Pan American Exposition along with Streets of Mexico and the African Village among others.

[Randy Treadway]

Jim, on 23 February 2012 - 08:44 PM, said:

I did not realize that. It is also interesting (and more evidence of the enthnocentricity of 19th and early 20th Century expositions) that Fair Japan was located in the amusement area of the Pan American Exposition along with Streets of Mexico and the African Village among others.

...as it was 8 years later in Seattle. ("Pay Streak" was the AYP Expo's name for their amusement zone).


But note that at the AYP Expo there was also a pavilion sponsored by the Japanese Government.


Here is the official Japanese Government building at St. Louis in 1904:


But the biggest of all was in London in 1910. An entire Expo was devoted to Japan!

[Randy Treadway]

Some more photos from the 1909 AYP Expo in Seattle, that might help with the architecture study.

Fair Japan in the Pay Streak amusement area:



The rest of these are the official Japanese Government building:

[Jim]

Those are wonderful photographs. Thank you.

[Hannah Sigur]

Dear All,
Thank you so much! I knew about some of this, but not all of it, and even the things that I'm not focusing on (such as the Seattle expo) are wonderful to get a wide perspective--such as the observation that "Fair Japan" was a standard way of describing these sites, at least the ones on Midway, Pike, etc. My dissertation dwells on the four major fairs of 1876, 1893, 1904 and SF 1915, and in the interests of geographic distribution, I opted for Buffalo as my one regional choice for various reasons. But I'm having real problems finding good photos of that Fair Japan, so I may have to switch. Difficult decision--every one of these events has something special about it.
Looking forward to reading more and sharing info myself.
Hannah

[Jim]

Did you check the website, "Doing The Pan"? There are some images of Fair Japan there.

There are other websites as well.

Also, the book, The Pan Amerian Exposition (Images of America) by Thomas Leary and Elizabeth Shoals may have some photographs of the Japanese exhibit. The official guide book to the Pan is available as an e-book, I believe. I hope you won't give up on this exposition. An excellent source of information on the Pan would be The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society. Check their website and/or directly contact them. They have an extensive collection on the Pan and have even recreated portions of the major exhibits as a part of their permanent exhibition. They also have a number of books published in 2001 (the centennial of the Pan) which contain a large number of photographs.

The BECHS also has motion pictures created by Thomas Edison which shows dancers at the Japanese exhibit and this might be an outstanding addition to your research. I believe these films are available on line via The BECHS or the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. But begin your search at the BECHS. You will find them very eager to assist you. I can virtually guarantee they will have the materials you seek.

Also, there is a book by Charles Dudley Arnold entitled Images of The Pan American Exposition (published in 1901) which has outstanding photographs of the fair and I suspect you will find scenes of Fair Japan.