A Study of Japanese old books in former Japanese colonies (Korea and Taiwan)

The libraries in former Japanese colonies in Korea and Taiwan (The Library of the Government-General of Chosen, The Library of the Government-General of Taiwan, The Library of Keijo Imperial University and The Library of Taihoku Imperial University) had excellent collections of Japanese old boos. Judging from quality and quantity, these collections in former Japanese colonies are not inferior to first-class collections in Japan.For academic activity of National Institute of Japanese Literature, these collections are so important that we cannot lack in their survey. Because our mission is investigation and practical use of all Japanese old books before modern-age (almost 1200 years).Now, these collections were transferred in several libraries. At National Central Library (Korea) and National Library of China(中国国立中央図書館), we surveyed each books bibliographically and made microfilms. At Seoul National University Library and National Taiwan University Library, we carried out survey each books bibliographically. The collections mentioned above and the following collections have connection substantially, so we surveyed books which are related to Japan at The Public Source of Dalian Library(大連図書館)(the collection of Manchuria Railway Co.), National Library of China, Peking University Library, Shanghai Library, Tianyi Pavilion Museum(天一閣博物館) and Far Eastern State University of Vladivostok (the collection of Karafuto-Cho).Every card of survey and all of microfilms are opened to the public and get possible to use them. About discovered important documents, several studies are advancing individually now. Lists of collections are input into our computers, and they are going to be shown on web (we do not have a plan of printing type lists).

The libraries in former Japanese colonies in Korea and Taiwan (The Library of the Government-General of Chosen, The Library of the Government-General of Taiwan, The Library of Keijo Imperial University and The Library of Taihoku Imperial University) had excellent collections of Japanese old boos. Judging from quality and quantity, these collections in former Japanese colonies are not inferior to first-class collections in Japan.For academic activity of National Institute of Japanese Literature, these collections are so important that we cannot lack in their survey. Because our mission is investigation and practical use of all Japanese old books before modern-age (almost 1200 years).Now, these collections were transferred in several libraries. At National Central Library (Korea) and National Library of China(中国国立中央図書館), we surveyed each books bibliographically and made microfilms. At Seoul National University Library and National Taiwan University Library, we carried out survey each books bibliographically. The collections mentioned above and the following collections have connection substantially, so we surveyed books which are related to Japan at The Public Source of Dalian Library(大連図書館)(the collection of Manchuria Railway Co.), National Library of China, Peking University Library, Shanghai Library, Tianyi Pavilion Museum(天一閣博物館) and Far Eastern State University of Vladivostok (the collection of Karafuto-Cho).Every card of survey and all of microfilms are opened to the public and get possible to use them. About discovered important documents, several studies are advancing individually now. Lists of collections are input into our computers, and they are going to be shown on web (we do not have a plan of printing type lists).