 MYSTERY PHOTO: The above main section of a seaman John Law photo shows the young Dollar Steamship Line crew member in a rickshaw during shore leave in Asian port but which one? His summer 1927 voyage aboard the SS President Lincoln included Yokohama, Kobe, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manila.  Immediately above is an image that includes a section cropped from the right side of rickshaw photo. It shows in more detail the expanse of park, period motorcars and a monument. Below is an image that includes a section cropped from the left side of rickshaw photo. It shows in more detail the pedestrian, cart and rickshaw traffic on the thoroughfare near some dock-like structures.  |
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When seaman John Law visited Yokohama in July 1927, that port city was still rebuilding itself from the devastation wrought by the Great Kanto Earthquake of Sept. 1, 1923. The quake had killed 20,000 and destroyed 60,000 houses.
Following the 1923 disaster, the city and its business community planned and estalished Hotel New Grand as the symbol for the rebirth of Yokohama. Situated near the port, it opened in 1927 as, and remains the city's only hotel in the traditional grand classic style.
Also in 1927, land near Yokohama port became the site of a structure deliberately resembling a dollhouse to serve as home to approximately 10,000 ethnic dolls representing the lifestyles of 140 countries. The museum figured in the pre-WWII peace promotion program featuring the exchange of Friendship Dolls between American and Japanese children. For more on Yokohama, visit its tourism site's Let's Learn on Yokohama section.
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Construction of the city's "New" Grand Hotel, left, and its Doll Museum, right, were major projects of note in 1927.