Moulin Rouge Shinjukuza Theatre Pamphlets (No 10 & 12) from1947, with advertisements for Camera Taiyodo on the back pages. The text is difficult to extract due to the small image size but No 10 says something about Planet Roll Holders, the Silver Gelto, and exchanges. No 12 has a picture of a Canon camera and says something about exchanges, high purchase prices, and the Silver and Black Gelto.
Imperial Theatre Opera Programme from 1947 for a performance of "Carmen", with a lower-third back page advert for Camera Taiyodo and featuring a Contax model.
1971 Camera Taiyodo store catalogue showing the existence of a Akasaka and Shinjuku shop in addition to that at Jimbocho. Note that the text is in English/American.
2010 Senshu University of Chiyoda article translation
Exploring Kanda Jimbocho with Camera Taiyodo (President Kunio Doi).
​
Near the Jimbocho intersection is a photo shop in the city that has been popular in this area for a long time. In addition to camera sales and DPE, we also sell photography and camera supplies. In particular, it has a reputation for developing technology and print finishing, and its regular customers are professional photographers.
The main customers are from universities and companies such as Meidai, Nihon University, Kyoritsu Women's University, and Kogakuin University. There is a branch office in the first terminal of Chengda International Airport, and there are more than a dozen employees at both stores. Their average age is about 50 years old. It is characterized by the fact that it is firmly supported by veterans.
A photograph of "Nsan Michel" is displayed, and a discussion with the guests begins. "We don't treat professionals as special, but we try to treat all customers without discrimination," says Hisao Yamashina, store manager. In the past, there was also a branch at the Tokyu Hotel in Akasaka (now Excel Hotel Tokyu). in Akasaka, and the "customers" included the late Ryutaro Hashimoto and former Prime Ministers Yasuo Fukuda. "Mr. Hashimoto.
He was a good photographer and was skilled enough to hold a solo exhibition. Mr. Fukuda is very knowledgeable about mechanics and often asks me questions about camera construction," says Yamashina, looking nostalgic.
Naturally, the staff likes cameras. There are also sports fans, and Shuji Fukui, who is in charge of DPE, shoots the Hakone Ekiden on New Year's Day every year near the finish line in Otemachi. He is a big American football fan and enjoys watching college games on his days off. Both of them capture the struggles of Sendai players in their works.
The company was founded in 1947. The "predecessor" [this does not appear to be the correct word, but clearly the context is one of a past connection] was the camera maker Taiyodo Koki. After the war, starting from the town factory, beans mela [assumed to mean "bean" cameras (i.e. Hit-types)] and twin-lens reflex blossomed. The factory was located behind the current store.
The windows of the store are lined with used cameras inside and outside. Squid, Rollei, Alpa... Some of them are the 6×6 format (bellows type) of the Royer and the Baby Ikonta 12. There are also rarities coveted by fans such as 7. There is also a beauty camera (I-type, bellows type).
​
​
Some more Odds & Ends
