A Research on the Books of Architecture of the Modern Japan Period

1987 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 60550430
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for General Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: 建築史・建築意匠
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: FUJIMORI Terunobu Assistant Professor of the Institute of Industrial Science University of Tokyo, 生産技術研究所, 助教授 (80159128)
• Project Period (FY): 1985 – 1987
• Keywords: 建築書 / 情報 / 蔵書 / 総目録

Research Abstract

The books published covering the Meiji to the Showa periods are conservatively estimated to run to the thousands. If this rough estimate is correct, then the use of a computer to store vital information is necessary as it is deemed impossible for an average person to read and memorize so much data.
An inventory of the books was had and the total number amounted to merely a thousand, which is not much. In relation to this, the computer which was thought vital at first, is not necessary. The handling of information is manageable through continuous readings just like a private collection of books.
To determine which among the books are considered the important ones, we conducted a research. It was learned that basing through the frequency of borrowing, the most popular books were those on Architects' Designs and Buildings; and Evaluations and Criticisms on Architects and thier Buildings.
To further illustrate the importance of the classification of Architecture books, we went ot the National Library. The National Library's method of classification is vague, confusing and unacceptable for scholars of the Histroy of Japanese Modern Architecture. It is for this reason that we made our own classification. Our own classification of Architecture books can be described as concise.
In concluding, we have made a more practical Index and Bibliographical Introduction to books on Japnaese Modern Architecture.