Bizarre Japanese Christmas Card From 1955

Here’s a deadstock Christmas card created by Brad McGinty’s grandfather post-WWII in an attempt to create American-style greeting cards for both the Japanese and the American markets.

“A few years after my Grandfather returned from the war he decided to start a greeting card company. Armed with one terrible idea and no artistic ability whatsoever, he turned to someone he had met during the war for help, a young Japanese solider he had shot in the face named Haruo. My grandfather spoke no Japanese, and Haruo spoke no English, so how they actually got together is beyond me or anyone else in my family. The idea involved creating American-style greeting cards for both the Japanese and the American markets. It also required Haruo to create all the artwork and handle all of the printing.”

Source: bradmcginty.com  /  via: bradmcginty.com

“The story of my grandfather’s failed card company was pretty well known in my family. My grandfather always insisted that it ruined his life and was the cause of his “whiskey fits.” Not only did he blame Haruo for the fiasco, but all of Japan for his financial ruin. He even went as far as to contact the Irish Press in 1956 with a completely fictitious tale about being swindled out of his money while trying to stop a Japanese murder plot against the Pope.”

Source: bradmcginty.com  /  via: bradmcginty.com

Awesome caption from an Irish newspaper.

Source: bradmcginty.com  /  via: bradmcginty.com

4.

LINK

The History Behind The Christmas Cards

bradmcginty.com

5.

LINK

Kaiju Christmas Cards

io9.com