19th century hand-tinted Japanese Albumen print of woman and two porters smoking. (Photo by by Baron von Stillfried or Felice Beato/Alamy Stock Photo)





A group of Samurai or Japanese warriors with their ancient arms and armour, circa 1870. (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)





Samurai, Yokohama (Japan). Ca. 1865. (Photo by adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images)





Three men practicing Kendo, discipline derived from the ancient tradition of the Samurai, circa 1885-90. (Photo by Unidentified Author/Alinari via Getty Images)





Japanese craftsmen making hand painted lanterns of split bamboo cane and thin paper, circa 1870. (Photo by Felice Beato/Getty Images)





A rickshaw driver brings a wealthy young woman to her destination, as her man servant accompanies on foot, in this circa 1890 hand colored photograph from Tokyo. (Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images)





Samurai commiting seppuku (hara-kiri) in Japan, circa 1880. (Photo by adoc-photos/Corbis via Getty Images)





People, Old Japan, pic: circa 1900, Four Samurai warriors in their traditional costumes (Photo by Popperfoto/Getty Images)





An illustration from a French book published around 1890 shows three warriors in full dress. (Photo by Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)