The Japanese Historical Cameras

A Report by Makoto Shibata, Chairman of the Grand Prix Selection Committee and CJPC (Camera Journal Press Club) Representative to the TIPA World Awards Assembly

October 9, 2025

Permanent exhibition hall of the JCII Camera Museum

In 2025, the CJPC Camera Grand Prix, an award that decides the best camera and lens of the year, celebrated its 42nd anniversary. While the award is chosen in Japan, where many camera brands are concentrated, it attracts global attention. TIPA participated in the Camera Grand Prix selection, being a selection committee member since 2010.

The CJPC also engages in activities that archive Japanese Historical Cameras. While not as well-known as the Camera Grand Prix, it serves as an essential and meaningful chronicle that concentrates on the history of the camera industry.

Japanese Historical Cameras Project

The Japanese Historical Cameras project selects and archives cameras every year with the aim of recording the history of the development of cameras in Japan as well as technological innovations that have advanced the art and science of imaging.

Organized by JCII (Japan Camera Industry Institute), it highlights domestically produced cameras released within the past year (from January 1st to December 31st) that are considered to be the first of their kind in Japan, marking them as technologically and/or historically significant, in addition to being particularly popular on the market. These are selected by the Japanese Historical Cameras Screening Committee, which is made up of 10 technical experts and academics.

About the JCII

Japan Camera Inspection Association, founded in 1954, contributes to improving the quality of Japanese cameras by carrying out various tests and research work, including export inspections of optical equipment. They also serve as a forum for international exchange related to cameras.

JCII began selecting Japanese Historical Cameras in 1969. Each year since, and going back more than 120 years, they have chosen cameras that are significant in the industry’s history. It should be noted that at least one model has been selected as a Japanese Historical Camera every year.


Cultural and Educational Activities

In 1989, when cameras were no longer subject to export inspection, JCII shifted the focus of their work from inspection and testing to cultural activities. They opened the JCII Camera Museum in 1989. In 1991, they also established the JCII Photo Salon and JCII Library, plus began offering photo classes through the JCII Academy. Through these facilities and activities, they are working to improve the culture of photography and imaging, and to contribute to the overall development of related industries and activities that serve camera users.

A few glimpses of the museum.

Over 900 Japanese Historical Cameras Selected

From the start of camera manufacturing in Japan to the present, approximately 900 cameras have been selected as Japanese Historical Cameras. Most of these are stored in the JCII Camera Museum, run by JCII.


Currently, the Museum has a collection of over 20,000 cameras. They were mainly provided as samples for export inspections, but some were donated by individuals and organizations. Many of the cameras are in working order, but some have not been repaired in order to avoid losing parts from the time of manufacture, making them more valuable as historical artifacts.

If you visit Japan, please stop by the JCII Camera Museum. There, you can experience the efforts and evolution of the Japanese camera industry to date. It will surely be an added value experience to enhance your camera knowledge and understanding.

Notable models in “Japanese Historical Cameras”

The three models selected as “Japanese Historical Cameras” for 2024 are the Sony α9 III, the Fujifilm INSTAX mini 99, and the Ricoh Imaging PENTAX 17.

α9 III is a mirrorless camera equipped with a full-size CMOS image sensor with a global shutter system that can expose and read all pixels simultaneously. It is capable of high-speed shutter of 1/80000 seconds and full-speed sync shooting
INSTAX mini 99 is an instant camera equipped with an LED inside the camera and a “Color Effect Control” function that can express six different colors by directly irradiating the film with different colored light depending on the dial setting.
PENTAX 17 is a camera that shoots 17 x 24 mm half-format images. It gained popularity as a film camera that appeared in the heyday of digital.
Cherry Handheld Camera: Japan’s first historic camera (replica / 1903)
Hansa Canon: focal-plane shutter camera using 35mm film (1935)
Minolta α7000 : SLR camera with AF motor built into the body (1984)
A booklet that lists the camera name, manufacturer name, release date, reason for being designated as a historical camera, and price at the time of release for models designated as Japanese historical cameras between 2009 and 2022.
Top page of the JCII site.

JCII Camera Museum

https://www.jcii-cameramuseum.jp/top-e

Location JCII Ichiban-cho Bldg., 25, Ichiban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0082 Japan (Nippon)Telephone +81-3-3263-7110
Exhibition Area 310 sq. meters (3,300 sq. ft.)
Hours 10:00 to 17:00
Closed Mondays (In case Monday is a National Holiday, the museum will be open and be closed the following day), the beginning and end of the year, and other dates determined by the museum.