Japan aggressively adopted Western culture in the 19th century, when the Meiji Government took over political administration. The country opened up to the Western Culture and visitors. Foreign tourists were allowed to travel to Japan. The foreign and Japanese photographers who set up studios catered mainly to foreign residents and tourists. The foreign photographers were called Gaijin, a Japanese word for foreigners and non-Japanese. Fascinated with the Japanese culture and visual imagery, they took photographs of everything that sparked their interest. The exhibition is a gorgeous historical survey, packed with captivating shots of geishas, samurai, shrines, and, yes, the mythic cherry blossoms in bloom.