PHOTOGRAPHY IN POSTAL HISTORY

Vol. 1, No. 22 • Spring 2026

Document Analysis

Sukiya Camera receipt, Ginza, Tokyo, 6 November 1972

❧ Chapter ❧

Ginza Camera Retail and Postwar Japanese Consumer Culture: A 1972 Receipt from Sukiya Camera

Ginza, Tokyo • 6 November 1972

T his document, dated 6 November 1972, is a receipt issued by "Sukiya Camera," a business operating in the Ginza district of Tokyo. The use of both English and Japanese on the letterhead indicates that the company was oriented not only toward local customers but also toward an international clientele. From the mid-twentieth century onward, Ginza emerged as one of Tokyo's principal commercial and retail districts, particularly known for its specialized shops dealing in photographic equipment and consumer electronics. In this context, Sukiya Camera can be understood as an active participant in the expanding market for photographic and electronic goods, serving both domestic consumers and foreign visitors.

The document explicitly lists the firm's product range, which includes cameras, photographic film, transistor radios, tape recorders, binoculars, and watches. This diversity suggests that the business operated within a broader consumer electronics framework rather than being limited exclusively to photographic equipment. The early 1970s represent a period during which Japan experienced rapid technological advancement and established a strong presence in global markets for optical and electronic products. Retail shops in Tokyo functioned as key points of access for both local buyers and international tourists seeking technologically advanced goods. The handwritten entry "Olympus RC" on the receipt indicates that the purchased item was a specific model of camera, demonstrating how such products were distributed directly to customers through specialized retail outlets.

"The use of both English and Japanese on the letterhead indicates that the company was oriented not only toward local customers but also toward an international clientele."

Although no clear name is recorded in the recipient section, the use of an English-language format and the inclusion of the dollar ($) currency symbol suggest that the customer was likely a foreign visitor. During this period, Japan became an increasingly attractive destination for international travelers interested in purchasing electronic and photographic equipment. Documents of this kind provide concrete evidence of the intersection between tourism and commerce in the globalizing economy of the late twentieth century.

From a philatelic perspective, the receipt is not a postal item; however, the presence of a Japanese revenue stamp is a significant feature. This stamp represents the application of a fiscal tax required for official documents in Japan. The red cancellation mark indicates that the stamp was duly validated, confirming the document's legal and financial authenticity. In this respect, the item occupies an intersection between philately and fiscal history.

In terms of collecting, the receipt may be categorized within commercial ephemera, the history of photography, and the study of Japan's postwar electronics industry. Its reference to a specific camera model enhances its relevance for collections focused on photographic equipment. Furthermore, its association with Ginza as a major commercial center adds geographical and cultural significance.

In conclusion, this document should be interpreted not merely as a routine sales receipt but as a historical artifact reflecting the technological production, consumer culture, and international trade networks of early 1970s Japan. The transaction between a Tokyo-based retailer and a likely foreign customer illustrates the global circulation of technological goods and highlights the role of urban retail environments in facilitating this exchange. As such, the document provides valuable insight into the interconnected dynamics of production, distribution, and consumption in the modern era.

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RECORD INFORMATION

Title:

Ginza Camera Retail and Postwar Japanese Consumer Culture: A 1972 Receipt from Sukiya Camera

Category:

Photographic Industry History / Commercial Documentation

Subcategory:

Retail Trade / Fiscal History

Country:

Japan → [Foreign visitor]

City:

Ginza, Tokyo → [International customer]

Date of use:

6 November 1972

Company (Sender):

Sukiya Camera, Ginza, Tokyo. A retail business specializing in cameras, photographic film, transistor radios, tape recorders, binoculars, and watches. Operated in Ginza, a major commercial district known for photographic equipment and consumer electronics. Served both domestic consumers and international tourists during Japan's postwar economic boom.

Product:

Olympus RC camera (handwritten entry).

Object Type:

Commercial receipt with revenue stamp

Postal Features:

No postal markings – features Japanese revenue stamp (fiscal stamp) with red cancellation mark, indicating legal and financial authenticity.

Language:

English, Japanese

Material:

Printed receipt form with handwritten entries and revenue stamp

Dimensions:

Standard receipt format

Collection Theme:

Sukiya Camera, Ginza Tokyo, Olympus RC, Japanese photographic retail, postwar consumer electronics, international tourism, revenue stamps, fiscal philately, 1970s Japan, Ginza shopping district, camera retail.

Archival Significance:

This 1972 receipt documents the intersection of postwar Japanese consumer electronics retail, international tourism, and fiscal documentation, illustrating how Tokyo's Ginza district served as a key node in the global circulation of Japanese photographic technology during the country's economic boom.

RESEARCH NOTE

This article is based on historical research and independent analysis of the material in the author's collection. The text has been prepared as an original interpretative study and does not reproduce copyrighted material.

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