During the Edo period laws were severely enforced, so the Tokugawa Shogunate established special places for important public announcements. Called kosatsuba, the public announcement boards were made of wood, like the one on this photo taken in Tsumago-juku, Nagano, which remained in place until today.

Kosatsuba were placed on raised foundations to prevent crowding, but it is also said that displaying them above was a psychological trick to intimidate the citizens…

Kosatsuba, Tsumago, Nagano

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Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese mansion interior