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 man prays to mourn victims of the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami in front of a ship brought ashore by the disaster in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. (Photo by Kyodo via Reuters)

A female Marine prepares to throw a practice grenade during Marine Combat Training (MCT) on February 21, 2013 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Since 1988 all non-infantry enlisted male Marines have been required to complete 29 days of basic combat skills training at MCT after graduating from boot camp. MCT has been required for all enlisted female Marines since 1997. About six percent of enlisted Marines are female. (Photo by Scott Olson)

An animatronic dragon performs during the launch of How To Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular at a Dreamworks and Global Creatures media call on August 8, 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

A performer poses with “The Gronkle” and “Deadly Nadder” at the How to Train Your Dragon Media Call at Fox Studios on November 29, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. The “How to Train Your Dragon Arena Spectacular” world premiere will take place in Australia in March 2012. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

AKB48 perform during the MTV Video Music Aid Japan at Makuhari Messe on June 25, 2011 in Chiba, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

A potential bidder carefully examines pieces of Tuna in order to ascertain the quality and to estimate its price ahead of the Tuna auction at the Tsukiji fish market on February 28, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)