Here we have a miniature plate camera. The quality of manufacture, rather average, would imply it was primarily intended for apprentice photographers, so one would almost be tempted to classify it as  a "toy", albeit perfectly functional.

Its wooden body is entirely sheathed in black leather. The drop-down door is unlocked in the usual way by  a push button under the handle. One then needs to pull the front, which is where things get tricky : the adjustment and rigidity of the piece parts being fairly approximative, this manoeuver is a delicate one !

A dual focusing scale (with F and K markings) would lead to think that an alternative magazine was on offer : this Pocket Camera has in fact been found equipped with a ground glass and a double 5 x 8 cm plate holder, but it is possible that a film-pack back might have been an option. Another possibility would be an alternative utilization with special film-holders of the "no-need-darkroom" type, quite trendy in Japan at the time. This process was based on cardboard film-holders, and development was done in dim light using red-tinted chemicals in order to obtain an inactinic effect. The holder containing the exposed film was dipped into the developer, then the protective cover was open. The next step was to dip the film holder into the fixer, before retrieving the negative. This process was popularized by Tougodo in particular.

The shutter has to be special : actually, it is written on it ! The 3 settings are not for different speeds, but rather 3 steps. On "1" the shutter is closed. On "2" it is open, allowing to frame and focus on the ground glass. On "3" it is cocked for release at best guess (no finder), corresponding to a sort of 2-step "T" setting as was sometimes found on cameras of the beginning of the century (the twentieth namely).

As such, the holders accept 5 x 8 cm plates, more likely than 5.5x8 cm (Meishi type) whose real dimension is 5.4 x 8.3, or in other words quite precisely the internal measurement of the holder. As it looks difficult in darkness to insert thin glass plates 2 mm thick in slots lacking the slightest play, a smaller size would be preferred ; however unusual it was identified on other Japanese "toy" cameras of the period.

Similar to its larger sisters, this view camera enjoys 2 Kodak-thread tripod mounts : what it takes to pass a good photographic initiation in order to afford a better-performing equipment as a next step.