About This Image

We know the identity of this modest woman, who hides her hands from the camera’s view, from an inscription on the case (directly under the glass plate) that gives her name and age: “Murai Chiju, age 34 and 8 months.”

A red studio stamp on the inside of the case lid reads: “Dai Nihon, omi no kuni, Otsu Ishikawa-cho, Shashin-shi Fujisugi Masaaki.” Translation: “Japan (“Dai” is an honorific term for Japan), in the area of Otsu (Shiga Prefecture), Ishikawa town; photographer Fujisugi Masaaki.”