Japanese Postcard collection

What kind of social changes can a small Postcard show?

In the early 20th century, postcards quickly replaced traditional woodblock prints and became the most popular image bearing form in contemporary Japan. Hundreds of millions of postcards have been produced to meet the public’s urgent need for images that represent the rapidly developing modern country. Many of the first postcards were distributed by the government during the Russo Japanese War (1904-1905). These postcards were produced and distributed for the purpose of war propaganda. However, almost at the same time, many well-known artists were also attracted by the informality and privacy of postcards and began to create amazing Postcard designs. For these painters and graphic designers, postcards also provide exciting opportunities: they can try the latest European styles, such as art nouveau style and decorative art style.

From 1900 to 1940, Japan transformed into an international, industrialized and highly urbanized society. At this time, postcards are not only a new form of visual expression, but also an important means of advertising.

March 2002, Leonard a. Lauder donated his collection of more than 20000 Japanese postcards to the Boston Museum of fine arts. These works were mainly born in Japan from the early 20th century to a few years before World War II, showing a series of outstanding themes and styles.

Today, let’s enjoy several different types of Japanese postcards in the collection of the Boston Museum of fine arts.

01

New art movement style

With smooth and curved lines, Japanese artists integrate this luxurious European style into their own design.

one

あ ひ る, Junichi yuzaki, Japan, late Meiji, color lithography, ink and metallic pigment on cardboard

two

Angel, Saburo OTA, Japan, late Meiji, colored lithography, embossing, ink and metallic pigments on cardboard

three

“Drum beating beauty butterfly”, Hongguang Nakazawa, Japan, late Meiji, color lithography, ink and metallic pigment painted on cardboard, with row holes on the right

four

Yoshino conference: the third university in Kyoto, author unknown, Japan, color lithography, ink and metallic pigment on cardboard

02

Decorative art style

In the 1920s and 1930s, with the vigorous development of Japan as an international metropolis in the field of culture, decorative art was closely related to the development of Japanese urban culture. Decorative art is famous for its geometric patterns, linear style and saturated color characteristics. Graphic designers who create advertisements and New Year cards often use this style.

one

“Looking forward to dark flowers”, Kobayashi, Japan, Taisho Era or early Showa, colored woodblock paintings, organic and inorganic colorants, containing metal pigments, painted on Japanese paper adhered to cardboard

two

The author is unknown, Japan, early Taisho, 1933, color lithography, ink and metallic pigment printed on coated cardboard

three

“My daughter’s youth”, Kobayashi, Japan, Taisho Era or early Showa, colored woodblock paintings, organic and inorganic colorants, containing metal pigments, painted on Japanese paper adhered to cardboard

03

Japanese New Year greeting card

When the new year comes, send a greeting card to convey your greetings and thoughts to others! The following are some exquisite new year’s greetings in MFA’s collection.

one

“Nian He Xiang; のむらや”, unknown author, Showa era, 1930, color wood painting, organic and inorganic colorants painted on Japanese paper

two

“New Year’s greetings: goat”, Maruyama sunset, Japan, late Meiji, 1907, color lithography, ink and metallic pigment printed on coated cardboard

three

New year’s greetings ··················································································· s. Riyo, Japan, Taisho Era or early Showa, color lithography, ink and metallic pigments printed on coated cardboard

four

“New Year’s greetings: social networking”, unknown author, Japan, Taisho Era, 1912, embossing, mosaic, ink and metallic pigments painted on cardboard

04

Japanese beauty Postcard

The figure of Japanese beauty often appears on postcards. They sometimes wear traditional Japanese clothes and sometimes modern western clothes.

one

“Flute (in 姫様様とよりり), Takeji Fujishima, late Meiji, 1905, Japan, color woodblock printing and missing word printing, organic pigment, inorganic pigment and metal pigment are painted on Japanese paper pasted on cardboard

two

“Fan”, written by Hideki HOTA, late Meiji, Japan, color lithography, organic pigment, inorganic pigment and metal pigment painted on Japanese paper pasted on cardboard

three

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Zhejiang’s net population growth last year was 720000, highlighting the population attraction of the fourth largest economic province. However, during the same period, the birth population of the province was only 449000, a new low in nearly 18 years.

Zhejiang’s population has increased by 720000, and the birth population has hit an 18 year low

According to the latest data released by Zhejiang, at the end of 2021, the permanent resident population of the province was 65.4 million, an increase of 720000 compared with 64.68 million at the end of 2020.

Tang Hailu, vice chairman of the expert committee of Hangzhou Planning Commission, analyzed China first finance and economics that population growth is closely related to regional industrial development, which requires more labor. Among them, Hangzhou and Ningbo have strong innovation power and do a good job in industrial transformation, so they attract more people to enter.

On January 17 this year, the data released by the National Bureau of statistics showed that at the end of 2021, the national population (including the population of 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government and active servicemen, excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents and foreigners living in 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government) was 1412.6 million, an increase of 480000 over the end of the previous year.

In this case, there are still 720000 people in Zhejiang, highlighting the population attraction of Zhejiang in recent years. This also shows that at present, China’s population is still flowing to developed areas and major urban agglomerations. While the population of some outflow provinces continues to decline, the population of some economically developed provinces is still growing significantly.

Dong Yuzheng, a population expert and President of Guangdong Institute of population development, analyzed China first finance and economics, although the total population has almost reached the warning line of negative growth. However, from the overall situation, the total population of the Pearl River Delta, Yangtze River Delta and other places still has a slow growth.

The data show that at the end of 2021, among the permanent residents in Zhejiang Province, the birth population was 449000, the death population was 384000, and the natural increase population was 65000. The birth rate is 6.90 ‰, the mortality rate is 5.90 ‰, and the natural growth rate is 1.00 ‰. Compared with 2020, the birth rate decreased by 0.23 thousand points, the mortality increased by 0.06 thousand points, and the natural growth rate decreased by 0.29 thousand points.

According to the data of natural population changes (1978-2020) in the statistical yearbook of Zhejiang Province, the first financial reporter found that the birth population of Zhejiang was 449000 in 2021, a new low in recent 18 years (since 2004). Meanwhile, the birth rate of 6.90 ‰ in Zhejiang in 2021 is the lowest since 1978.

Data of birth population and year-end resident population in Zhejiang since 1978 (data of year-end resident population from 1978 to 1989 are temporarily unavailable). Data source: the first financial reporter combed the data according to the Zhejiang statistical yearbook 2021 and the main population data bulletin of Zhejiang Province in 2021

In terms of age group, in 2021, the population aged 60 and over in Zhejiang was 12.52 million, accounting for 19.1% of the total population, an increase of 0.4 percentage points over the previous year, of which the population aged 65 and over was 9.26 million, accounting for 14.2%, an increase of 0.9 percentage points over the previous year.

According to the internationally accepted division standard, when the population aged 65 and over accounts for more than 7% in a country or region, it means entering aging; Reaching 14%, it is a deep aging. In other words, Zhejiang has entered the stage of deep aging.

Hangzhou has a net population increase of 239000. Why is Jiaxing so fierce?

By city, what is the population change of major cities in Zhejiang? According to the population data of cities divided into districts at the end of 2020 in Zhejiang statistical yearbook 2021, the first financial reporter calculated the population changes of cities in 2021.

According to the data, among the 11 prefectures and cities in Zhejiang, the net population growth of three cities exceeded 100000, namely Hangzhou, Ningbo and Jiaxing. Among them, Hangzhou’s net population increased to 239000, accounting for one third of the province. When the national net population growth is only 480000, although Hangzhou is a large city with population inflow, the scale of net population growth is also significantly reduced compared with the peak of population growth in previous years.

Data map

Population changes in Zhejiang Province and cities in 2021

Tang Hailu believes that the total net population growth of Hangzhou is still large, which also reflects the new driving force of Hangzhou’s economic development and needs new labor force to support it. On the other hand, from the absolute value of Hangzhou’s population increment, it has moved from peak to slow down. Because the original development of Hangzhou was driven by the development of digital economy, especially the digital economy dominated by consumer Internet, which reflects Hangzhou’s first mover advantage. However, at present, the digital economy of other cities is also developing rapidly, so Hangzhou’s first mover advantage is gradually less obvious. In the future, Hangzhou will shift more from consumer Internet to industrial Internet, further integrate with the real economy, and promote the development of digital Hangzhou from the development of industrial Internet.

After Hangzhou, Ningbo’s net population increased by 124000, ranking second. It is worth noting that the permanent resident population of Ningbo has reached 9.544 million, and continues to move towards a city with a population of 10 million. At the same time, the total population of Ningbo is further reduced from that of Wenzhou, which ranks second, with a difference of only 100000 people. Last year, the net increase in Wenzhou’s population was only 58000. From the current trend, in the near future, the population of Ningbo may exceed that of Wenzhou.

Tang Hailu said that the trend of Ningbo’s population surpassing Wenzhou is inevitable. In recent years, the combination of real economy and digital economy in Ningbo has been very good. Ningbo’s own manufacturing industry is very developed and there are many invisible champions. After the empowerment of the Internet, it can further improve the industrial development.

On the other hand, Ningbo is located along the coast of Hangzhou Bay, closer to Shanghai and Hangzhou. Tang Hailu said that in essence, the development of innovation is related to the source of innovation. In Zhejiang Province, the most abundant resources related to innovation ability, such as scientific research institutions and universities, are in Hangzhou, followed by Ningbo. Through the integration of Hangzhou and Ningbo, through cooperation and division of labor, dislocation development will further promote their respective development. At the same time, Ningbo is close to Shanghai and receives the empowerment of many scientific research forces in Shanghai. Some functions of Shanghai also spill over to Ningbo. The combination of these two sides has promoted the economic development of Ningbo.

In contrast, the increase in the population of Hangzhou and Ningbo is partly due to the outflow of talents and population from Wenzhou. Tang Hai