Portland Press Herald Glass Negative Collection

Sailors from the Japanese warship Kasuga are in a launch in Portland Harbor, next to their ship.

The striped flag at the stern of the whale boat is the Japanese naval ensign.

Visiting Portland for the state's centennial celebration June 26-July 5, 1920, were naval vessels from Britain, Portugal, Japan and the United States. Crews competed in various contests during the week, including whaleboat races on July 3, 1920.

This photograph was on the front page of the July 4, 1920 issue of the Portland Sunday Telegram.