Historical Research on the Study of Japanese Books in Europe

1998 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 08041036
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for international Scientific Research
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: Field Research
• Research Field: 国文学
• Research Institution: National Institute of Japanese Literature
• Principal Investigator: OKA Masahiko National Institute of Japanese Literature Deputy Director-Genral, 副館長 (20044729)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAMASAKI Makoto National Institute of Japanese Literature Director-Genral, 文献資料部, 教授 (70094696) ; CAMPBELL Robert National Institute of Japanese Literature, LDD, Associate Professor, 文献資料部, 助教授 (50210844) ; OCHIAI hiroshi National Institute of Japanese Literature, LDD, Associate Professor, 文献資料部, 助教授 (50224259) ; SHINDO Kyozo National Institute of Japanese Literature, LDD, Associate Professor, 文献資料部, 教授 (80007161) ; MATSUNO Yoichi National Institute of Japanese Literature, LDD, Associate Professor, 館長 (50005823)
• Project Period (FY): 1996 – 1998
• Keywords: Germany / Italy / Switzerland / Classical Japanese Bibliography / Libeary / Museum / Archive

Research Abstract

The main purpose of the present research project was to identify the location of and survey original Japanese classical texts surviving in Germany and Italy . The survey in Germany aimed specifically to amass bibliographic information on texts not included in Doctor Eva Kraft's union catalogue " JAPANISCHE HANDSCHRIFTEN UND TRADITIONELLE DRUCKE AUS DER ZEIT VOR 1868 " . Surveys in both countries proceeded smoothly . Thank in great part to the understanding and cooperation of both collectors and our local collaborators . During the period of our grant , we traveled to Europe 6 times , visiting 20 institutions and private homes , and were able to compile detailed records of approximately 2,100 works of classical literature .
In Germany . We were able to complete our survey of works excluded from Doctor Kraft's catalogue , the majority of which Doctor Kraft was kind enough to inform us of before the project began . In this way , we were able to augment the preexisting catalogue of texts surviving in Germany . The situation in Italy , on the other hand , was less sanguine : no union catalogue exists , and we were forced to search through collections one by one. The discovery of Father Mario Marega's personal library at the Salesian University in Rome was a major breakthrough , and the catalogue we compiled will no doubt contribute much to Europeans Japanology in years to come .
With the exception of the Pulverer Collection , all the sites we visited were public institutions . As is the case in Japan , information about and access to private collections can be extremely limited The Quality and scope of the Pulverer Collection is exceptional , but we will need to continue our efforts to discover and survey other private collections . Of course there remains much to be done at public institution as well . And we intend to use the results of the present project to forward our investigations into classical texts surviving across Europe .