These timeless postcards offer an eye-opening glimpse into life in Japan in the early 20th century. Taken from hand-colored photographs, the postcards showcase the still beauty of the country, depicting a nation on the cusp of modernization. The images feature solemn fishermen, bustling streets, temples and shrines: a country yet to be influenced by Western culture. The tinting effect brings out the rich colors of the natural surroundings, with trees, flowers and cherry blossoms jumping from the original black-and-white images. Here: Toyokuni Shrine Nakanoshima, Osaka, Japan. (Photo by New York Public Library/Caters News)

A competitor reacts ahead of Tough Guy Mudathon event in Perton, Britain, 04 February 2018. The original event which started in 1987 raises money for charity and challenges thousands of international competitors with a cross-country run followed by an assault course consisting of 20 obstacles including water, fire and tunnels. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/EPA/EFE)

Matt Town of the st Centingas historic re-enactment group poses for portraits in his home while wearing his replica Saxon armour on October 12, 2016 in Ramsgate, England. This weekend marks the 950th anniversary of 1066, the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest, and many historical groups will be participating in a large-scale re-enactment on the site of the original battle. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

People celebrate the traditional Fiesta de las Aguedas on February 6, 2022 in Andavias, Zamora, Castilla y Leon, Spain. This celebration, also known as “El dia de las mujeres”, is a deep-rooted tradition in Castilla y Leon, especially in rural areas. The day of the Aguedas has its origin in the cult of Santa Agueda, and is celebrated every February 5. (Photo By Emilio Fraile/Europa Press via Getty Images)

The original first mechatronic E.T. character from Steven Spielberg's 1982 film “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” on display at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California on December 12, 2022, ahead of the “Julien's Auctions and TCM Present: Icons & Idols: Hollywood”. The auction will take place in-person and online on December 17 and 18. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown/AFP Photo)

Dancers perform during the Shirasagi-no Mai, or White Heron Dance, at the Sensoji Temple on April 09, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. The parade, which originated in the 8th-12th century in Kyoto, was revived in 1968 to celebrate Tokyo's 100th Anniversary and to wish for peace. The dance is now held twice a year, in April and November, at the Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, one of Tokyo's most popular tourist destinations for foreign visitors. (Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

In this Sunday, February 23, 2020, photo, sumo wrestlers wearing masks arrive at Shin Osaka railway station in Osaka, western Japan. A viral outbreak that began in China has infected more than 79,000 people globally. The World Health Organization has named the illness COVID-19, referring to its origin late last year and the coronavirus that causes it. (Photo by Kyodo News via AP Photo)

Young revelers take part in a parade called "La Calabiuza" on November 1, 2015, on the eve of the Day of the Dead in Tonacatepeque, 20 kms (13 miles) north of San Salvador. During the celebration, the residents of Tonacatepeque, originally an indigenous community, recall the characters from the mythology of Cuscatlan – pre-Columbian west and central regions of El Salvador – and their dead relatives. (Photo by Marvin Recinos/AFP Photo)