17‏/11‏/2013

Sabae's Emi Photo Studio

Meiji era building is home to 120 year old photo studio

By Larry Knipfing

Community writer

Military photo taken in front of a local shrine

A beautiful carving of the Asian Phoenix in the eaves of the gate

Situated on a side street in Sabae, and sandwiched in between a number of modern buildings, the Emi Photo Studio, is almost 120 years old. Established in 1905 by Mr. Yoshinosuke Emi, this elegant western style home features some beautiful architectural touches, both inside and out. The gate, a designated cultural property of the city, is charming. The building, although clearly western, features a Japanese style tiled roof. Inside, the floors are of beautiful wood. There is a strong feeling of nostalgia here, with old cameras and photos tucked into every corner and hanging on all the walls. The Emi family still runs their photo studio, next door!