open access

https://hdl.handle.net/2115/38239

The database of the photographs taken by Toyoji Hikita, and an experiment involving their utilization : in consideration with the time and location that the photographs were taken

日本語

2009-03-31

Center for Northern Humanities, Graduate School of Letters, Hokkaido University

Journal of the Center for Northern Humanities

2

63-80

Hokkaido University has a great many historical photographs; a good example of which are the pictures taken by Kaitakushi. Recently, some of Kaitakushi's pictures were used to chronicle phases of the pioneer days in Hokkaido. About 5,000 of the most often requested photographs taken during the Meiji or Taisho era were selected and categorized in 1992. However,there are so many pictures that remain to be catalogued, such as photographs taken by Toyoji HIKITA; fondly known as Hikita pictures. In the first chapter, I show an outline of the Hikita Pictures. The Hikita Pictures were taken from 1900-1940. The chapter features three characteristic points. The first is the sheer volume. About 6,000 negatives out of 6,900 negatives made of glass were selected for paper prints. The second point is that even though these negatives made of glass are very valuable, they have been provided for public viewing. The third point has to do with the fact that Hikita left many notes about the pictures that specified when and where the picture was taken and provided details about the things in the photographs. I think the third point is the most important because the notes also help us understand how each picture is connected to the others. In the second chapter, I confirm the objects in the Hikita picture database. The contents of the Hikita Pictures, half of which is specimens of sea creatures. The remainder varies between photographs of people and landscapes. This paper focuses on the remainder, because it includes the pictures of Chishima, or Karahuto, and other prized photographs. Although the Hikita pictures are quite intriguing, they have rarely been used. This is due to the fact that they have not been properly catalogued. However,there is a database in place of the catalogue and it serves as a reliable reference. I finished making the database, so in the third chapter, I describe how it was constructed and is used. Its main function is to help search for pictures that are used as references, and change the order according to one's preference. Referencing using the database, Hikita Pictures is the most effective, I think. To demonstrate how the database works, I select the 35 pictures that were taken in Etorohu in August 1938, and using the reference notes, or by changing the order, I can find out the purpose of the trip, or know the location or the time that the photograph was taken.

紀要論文

Version of Record

1882-773X

AA12313676