keio

Special Collections held at the Mita Media Center

Special Collections

  • Pre-nominal titles are omitted in the text.
  • Lists are arranged in alphabetical order.
  • The unit of counting for manuscripts and books bound in traditional Japanese style is an "item." For ordinary books, it is a "volume."
  • The names of collections will in principle be referred to using the notation of past introductory articles or the "name of previous owner" + "collection." If there is a printed catalog, this title has been adopted.
  • The kana readings of Western names will be based on the "Iwanami Dictionary of Western Names Expanded Edition" (Iwanami Shoten, 12/1981).
  • Some of the catalogs are included in Google Books; however, at present, these are only for images and complete texts are not searchable. Furthermore, some items such as bibliographic details are currently being revised (as of January 2016).
  • Some collection has special rules for using materials. If you are not a member of Keio University, inquiries can be made through the library at your affiliated institution or through your local public library. For more details, see here.

Inquiries concerning materials: Reference Section, Mita Media Center



Hiroshi Aramata Natural History Book Collection(荒俣宏旧蔵博物誌コレクション)
Overview A collection of 225 items given to the library from among materials relating to natural history gathered by Keio alumni and author Hiroshi Aramata to write the "World Natural History Encyclopedia" (Heibonsha, 1987-1994, 5 volumes/2 supplementary volumes). The materials focus on illustrated natural history books from Europe published between the 16th and 20th centuries and cover a variety of fields including anatomy, literature, exploration, travel, ethnography, civil engineering, architecture, and art.
Collection catalog 荒俣宏旧蔵博物誌コレクション目録』(RA@029.9@Ar1@1); searchable on KOSMOS
Location Special Collections Depository on the 4th basement floor of Main Library; some items are kept in the Rare Book Room and at other locations
Call number Various stacks
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Part of the collection is available on the Digital Collections of Keio University Libraries.
Chevalier's Autograph Letters Collection(シュヴァリエ書簡コレクション)
Overview This is a collection of the autograph letters written by Michel Chevalier (b.1806 - d.1879), a French engineer, stateman and economist. He is well known for his engagement in the negotiation of the free trade treaty between France and Great Britain in 1860.
Collection catalog List of letters
Location Rare Book Room
Call number 170X@16@1-11, 170X@16@12
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Albert Einstein Collection(アインシュタイン文書)
Overview The collection consists of 29 items relating to the interaction between Albert Einstein and Miyake Hayari, who was a professor at Kyushu Imperial University (at the time), including drafts, colored paper, photographs, letters, and epitaph rubbings. They are registered on KOSMOS under the title of "The Documents of Albert Einstein". Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog Chronological List
Location The archive room on the 1st basement floor of Main Library
Call number PR@3
Notes Application must be made in advance to view these items.
Fukuzawa Collection(福澤文庫)
Overview This is a collection of general books (approx. 1000 books) including books, translations, and other related documents by Keio University founder Yukichi Fukuzawa (1834-1901) and his students. Books and letters of Fukuzawa are contained in the "Complete Works of Yukichi Fukuzawa" (A@081.6@F1@5) and "Letters of Yukichi Fukuzawa" (A@915.6@Fu1@1-)
Collection catalog Searchable on KOSMOS
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building; some items are kept at the Rare Book Room
Call number 500@ - 502@
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Fukuzawa Related Documents(福澤関係文書)
Overview This is a collection of handwritten manuscripts, Japanese calligraphy, letters, personal collection of books, belongings, etc., of Keio University founder Yukichi Fukuzawa (1834-1901). The majority of these materials are contained in the "Microfilms of Documents Related to Fukuzawa" (YA@546), so please use these reproductions. Books and letters of Fukuzawa are contained in the "Complete Works of Yukichi Fukuzawa" (A@081.6@F1@5) and "Letters of Yukichi Fukuzawa" (A@915.6@Fu1@1-)
Collection catalog 『福澤関係文書マイクロフィルム』(YA@546)
Location 4th basement stacks of the Main Library (microfilms); Rare Book Room (originals)
Call number YA@546 (microfilms)
Notes Use of the microfilms (YA@546) is prioritized. The originals can only be used when it is necessary for verification purposes; In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Gaskell Collection(ギャスケル文庫)
Overview This is a collection of books owned by the British bibliographer and literary researcher Philip Gaskell (1926-2001). The 500 items related to bibliography are primarily concerned with typesetting and the history of printing in the West. The 831 books related to literature include variant copies of James Joyce's (1882-1941) Ulysses, 210 research texts, and 30 books related to Tom Stoppard.
Collection catalog Searchable on KOSMOS
Location Special Collections Depository on the 4th basement floor of Main Library
Call number TB@9
Notes
Gyosai Collection(魚菜文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Gyosai Tamura (1914-1991) who was widely known as a cooking expert. It includes books and historical records related to food and drink and cookery books including old documents of the Takahashi household, which served for generations as the custodians of Mizushidokoro (Imperial Kitchen), as well as historical records of the Ishii household; it comprises largely of books concerning ceremonial cuisine or court rules, decorum, and etiquette (yusoku kojitsu) rather than cooking methods. Items from the Takahashi household include old manuscripts on cooking styles, household records, and writings on court rules, decorum, and etiquette; items from the Ishii household include records comprised mainly of menus for entertaining imperial envoys and senior members of court, Korean envoys to Japan, and visits by the Shogunate to Nikko Shrine. The collection was also referred to as the "Ishitai Collection" as it was organized and bolstered by the ninth head of the Ishii household, Taijiro Ishii. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog 『魚菜文庫(旧称石泰文庫)目録』(RA@090@Mi267@1) [View on Google Books]
Location Rare Book Room
Call number 242@ / 242X@
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Takuzo Hanai Collection(花井卓蔵文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Takuzo Hanai (1868-1931) who was active as a criminal lawyer as well as a legislator and planner. The 240 documents consist of reference materials, meeting minutes, and various legislation proposals from the Legal Investigative Committee, Extraordinary Legislative Council, and Legislative Council. Many items exemplify the detailed notation of Hanai who was a regular participant in legislative business from the late Meiji period up to pre-war Showa. These are valuable materials which narrate the restructuring of Japan's modern legal system. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog 『花井卓蔵文書目録』 (RA@090@Mi268@1-1, YA@577@Guide)
Location 4th basement stacks of the Main Library (microfilms), The 3rd Stacks on the 2nd Floor of the Old Library (originals)
Call number YA@577 (microfilms)
Notes Use of the microfilms (sold by Maruzen-Yushodo; call number: YA@518; location: 4th-floor basement) is prioritized. The originals can only be used when it is necessary for verification purposes; application must be made in advance.
Hoshi Collection(星文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Toru Hoshi (1850-1901), a politician of the Liberal Party who both served as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America and as Minister of Communications and Transport in Prime Minister Hirobumi Ito's cabinet. The collection, which was said to number thousands of volumes, was entrusted to Keio University by Hikaru Hoshi and other surviving members of the family in 1906. The collection was officially donated to the university in 1913. The collection comprises of 5732 volumes of Japanese and Chinese books and 4817 volumes of Western books, including classical Japanese and Chinese texts from the Edo up to the Meiji period as well as many materials on politics, economics. Several volumes from China are also included.
Collection catalog 『星文庫和漢書目録』(RA@090@Mi268@1-2)[View on Google Books]; Catalogue of the Hoshi Library ( Western Books from the Hoshi Collection Catalog) (RB@090@Mi268@1-4)[View on Google Books]; searchable on KOSMOS.
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building; some items are kept at the Rare Book Room
Call number HP@ / HR@ / HS@ / HW@ / H@ / HB@ / HD@ /HE@ / HF@ / HG@ / HJ@ / HH@ / HL@ / HM@ / HN@
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Go Materials Collection(囲碁資料コレクション)
Overview This is a collection of 146 traditionally bound Japanese books related to the game of go. It was donated by Professor Emeritus Kenkichi Takanashi in October 2000. Primarily consists of go game records and scores from the Edo period and personal manuscripts of Kenkichi Takanashi. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog List in order of call numbers
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building
Call number 246@
Notes
Toshihiko Izutsu Collection(井筒俊彦文庫)
Overview This is a collection formally owned by Professor Emeritus Toshihiko Izutsu (1914-1993) who was renowned globally as a leading figure in research on Islamic thought. It consists of approximately 10,000 volumes of Japanese, Chinese, and Western books. Roughly 3700 volumes focusing on the foundations of law (philosophy of language) are counted among the materials in Arabic. The collection also includes extremely valuable materials such as 90 Iranian lithographic books rarely seen outside of Iran. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog 『井筒俊彦文庫目録:アラビア語・ペルシャ語図書の部』(RA@090@Mi269@1-2-2), 『井筒俊彦文庫目録:和漢書・洋書の部(稿)』 (RA@090@Mi269@1-2-1) [View on Google Books]The list of the excluded items (Last updated: August 2022)
Location
Call number
Notes Not available for general viewing.
Kadono Chokyuro Kyoka Collection(門野重九郎狂歌文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Sabun Nozaki (1858-1935), a writer of satirical poems in the tanka style known as kyoka and a well-known collector of kyoka literature. It includes many valuable texts including manuscripts by Nozaki as research materials on the golden age of kyoka style of poetry from the Tenmei era (1781-1789) to Showa. More than 100 volumes privately owned by Mochinari Akinoya (1862-1945), a researcher on a short form of typically humorous poetry concerning human nature that emerged in the 18th century known as ko-senryu, were added to the 407 pieces and 723 volumes already held in 1940 further enhancing the collection. Donated by Chokyuro Kadono in 1935.
Collection catalog 『慶應義塾圖書館狂歌書目錄』(204@346@1) [View on Google Books]; searchable on KOSMOS.
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building; some items are kept at the Rare Book Room
Call number 204@ and various other stacks
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Wealth of Nations Collection(国富論コレクション)
Overview This is Japan's foremost collection of editions of "The Wealth of Nations." The collection was begun on Tokuzo Fukuda's recommendation to purchase each edition of Adam Smith's work in order to bolster the collections at Keio University upon completion of the Old Library Building in 1911, and it has continued to be expanded up to the present day. The status of first editions (published between 1776 and 1850) and where they are held can be viewed in the PDF file.
Collection catalog List of first editions of the Wealth of Nations』; searchable on KOSMOS.
Location the Rare Book Room, Special Collections Depository on the 4th basement floor of Main Library and at other locations
Call number Various stacks
Notes Application must be made in advance to view rare books. In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Semi-rare books are handled at the Main Counter.
Koda Collection(幸田文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of the renowned historian and book collector Shigetomo Koda (1873-1954). The collection has roughly 6500 volumes of Japanese and Western books, and there are many particularly good examples of materials related to his research field of Japanese history as well as the history of Euro-Japanese relations. In addition, the collection covers an array of interests including old printed books, old documents, handwritten manuscripts from distinguished households of the Edo period, books of hand rubbings, fairy-tales from medieval Japan, books edited by Edo period book traders, and European literature from the time of Christianity's arrival in Japan in the 16th-17th centuries. Many items from the former collection of Koda were in circulation on the market, and the Hitotsubashi University Library also has a "Koda Collection" consisting of 160 items and 480 volumes of Japanese books, and 12 items and 13 volumes of Western books focused on bukan or books of heraldry. Furthermore, please note that there are items listed in the Kokusho Somokuroku (General catalog of national books) with a record of "Keio University Koda," that are not actually held at Keio University.
Collection catalog Searchable on KOSMOS with the exception of semi-rare books
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building, Rare Book Room and at other locations
Call number 215@ - 217@ and various other stacks
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Koukaichin(香果遺珍)
Overview The collection was formerly owned by Tsunesuke Hashimoto (b.1759-d.1805). He was a kokugaku scholar in Edo Period. He was also a Shinto clergyman and a ministerial officer serving the Imperial Palace. The collection includes over 1200 items such as books, drawings and documents. Below are the title and call number of the collection catalog. You may access the catalog at Mita Media Center, or purchase one for yourself.
Collection catalog 『橋本経亮旧蔵香果遺珍目録』(RA@090@Mi406@1-1) [Purchase]
Location Rare Book Room
Call number 133X@160@
Notes Some of the collection items were displayed at the 33rd Keio University Library Rare Books Exhibition. The exhibition catalog with illustrations is on sale. [Purchase]
In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Documents of the Kuwana Matsudaira Family(桑名松平家文書)
Overview These are old documents and records (429 items) passed down by the Sadatsuna family line of the Hisamatsu-Matsudaira household which once again became the feudal lords (daimyo) of the Kuwana Domain in 1823 after having been forced to relocate from the Kuwana Domain in Ise Province to the Takada Domain in Echigo Province and the Shirakawa Domain in Mutsu Province during the Edo period. It includes duty reports of feudal lords (mainly from the times of Sadanobu and Sadanaga Matsudaira), "Diaries of deputy officials" (from the Tenpo era [1830-1840] to the Bukyu era [1861-1864]), and compilations of law reports on criminal cases under the Edo Bakufu (collections of old and new materials as well as materials from the Tenpo era). Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection List in order of call numbers
Location Archive room on the 1st basement floor of Main Library
Call number PR@1@1
Notes Application must be made in advance to view these items.
Kyoshi Collection(虚子文庫)
Overview From among the former collection of Kyoshi Takahama, materials relating to Matsuyama were donated to the haikai (haiku) collection of the Ehime Prefectural Library, while the remaining 600 or so volumes were donated to Keio University in 1974. The collection of approximately 600 volumes includes personal poems, selections of haiku, prose, research texts, catalogs of season-specific terms for haiku (saijiki), and complete works.
Collection catalog 『虚子文庫目録』 / 慶應義塾大学国文学研究会[編] 1979(RA@090@Mi271@1-4)*only donated materials cataloged; searchable on KOSMOS
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building
Call number 900@
Notes Materials related to haiku entrusted to Keio University (drafts from meetings of haiku poets, letters, manuscripts, etc.) were returned to the Kyoshi Commemorative Literary Museum in 2001.
Matsumoto Collection(松本文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of the renowned pioneer of Southeast Asian research in Japan Nobuhiro Matsumoto (1897-1981), who was the former dean of the Faculty of Letters and the first director of the Keio Institute of Cultural and Linguistic Studies. The collection holds books from Japan and overseas concerning history, Japanese and Asian folklore (1601 volumes of Japanese books, 1908 volumes of Western books). It also includes roughly 60 rare titles such as Vietnamese books written in Chinese characters (etsunanhon) collected during an academic study conducted in Vietnam in 1933 as well as French language books collected while studying abroad at the University of Paris (Sorbonne). There are few places with collections of Vietnamese books written in Chinese characters in Japan, and this valuable collection ranks alongside the Nagata Collection (held at Toyo Bunko Museum).
Collection catalog 『松本文庫目録 : 慶應義塾図書館蔵 : 松本信廣名誉教授旧蔵書目録』(RA@090@Mi273@1-1) [View on Google Books]; with the exception of Vietnamese books written in Chinese characters (etsunanhon), searchable on KOSMOS.
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building, Special Collections Depository on the 4th basement floor of Main Library
Call number 1130@~1139@ / 244@ (Vietnamese books written in Chinese characters [etsunanhon])
Notes Use of the Vietnamese books written in Chinese characters (etsunanhon) conforms to the rules of usage for semi-rare books.
Mita Bungaku Library(三田文学ライブラリー)
Overview This is a collection of books, magazines, handwritten manuscripts, letters, etc., relating to 106 persons now deceased from among literati highly rated even in "Mita Bungaku" and who were deeply associated with Keio University. The books including first editions are in principle preserved in their original states, with the cases, wrappers, and book jackets having been kept as they were at the time of publication. Because this is a special collection for which the items are preserved in their original condition, its pieces are not available for general viewing; however, they are widely exhibited both within and without the university.
Collection catalog 『三田文学ライブラリー目録』(RA@090@Mi608@1-8)
Location Archive room on the 1st basement floor of Main Library
Call number MBL@
Call number Not available for general viewing. Application must be made in advance in special cases.
Mochizuki Collection(望月文庫)
Overview Gunshiro Mochizuki (1879-1940) was an industrialist active from the Meiji through to the Showa period. He also had a strong interest in the world of education, and regretting the lack of Chinese studies courses in Japan, the Mochizuki Chinese Research Foundation was established through his donation in 1926 and texts related to China were thereafter accumulated throughout the Showa period. The collection is made up of 1806 pieces and 5431 volumes of Japanese and Chinese texts, 508 pieces and 647 volumes of Western books, 71 pieces and 605 volumes of Japanese magazines, and 15 pieces and 98 volumes of Western magazines. The pre-war publications are particularly valuable, and these materials are even said to be essential for research on China and the Soviet Union. For searches, please use the "Keio University Mita Media Center Online Catalog" or the below collection catalog.
Collection catalog 『望月文庫和漢洋書目録』(28M@40@1) [View on Google Books] ; part of the collection is searchable on KOSMOS.
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building
Call number 300@ - 381@
Notes
Documents of Giichi Murakami(村上義一文書)
Overview These are records (roughly 1000 items) relating to the Manchurian Railway after the Manchurian Incident kept by Giichi Murakami (1885-1974), a politician and industrialist in the early Showa period and a board member of the South Manchurian Railway (1930-1934). The collection includes documents of policy proposals made under the jurisdiction of the railway department, investigation reports, opinion pieces, etc. In addition to original historical documents from a period of reorganizing modern law in Japan, the collection is also important from the perspective of research on colonial policies, diplomatic history, and economic history.
Collection catalog 『慶應義塾大学所蔵村上義一文書』(Library, 3rd floor, Microform Section (YA@518@Guide))
Location 4th basement stacks of the Main Library (microfilms), The 3rd Stacks on the 2nd Floor of the Old Library (originals)
Call number YA@518 (microfilms)
Notes Use of the microfilms is prioritized. The originals can only be used when it is necessary for verification purposes; application must be made in advance.
Documents of the Nakatsugawa Family(中津川家文書)
Overview Old documents passed down by the Nakatsugawa household that were retainers for the Date family of the Sendai Domain. The Date family were daimyo during the Sengoku period (age of provincial wars) from the Ou region that went on to become the daimyo of the Sendai Domain, which yielded 620,000 koku of rice, from the generation of Masamune Date in the Edo period. The Nakatsugawa household served the Date family continuously for over 300 years from the Sengoku period through Edo up to the Meiji Restoration. The Nakatsugawa family had the lowly status of Hirasaburai during the Edo period, possessing the Kurihara district of Mutsu Province (present day Kurihara city in Miyagi prefecture) worth roughly 10-30 kanmon (unit of currency; yielding roughly 100-300 koku of rice). The collection holds around 180 items mainly relating to the martial arts including license catalogs for jujitsu, gunnery, and swordsmanship as well as family trees and genealogies for the Nakatsugawa household, and letters from the heads of the Date family going back to the Sengoku period. The collection was donated in March 2006 by the current head of the Nakatsugawa household and Keio alumni, Yuzo Nakatsugawa. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog List in order of call numbers
Location Rare Book Room
Call number 133X@119
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Nara Collection(奈良文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Shikaro Nara (1890-1960) who, along with serving as a board member of Osaka Shosen Kaisha Lines and president of Seto Naikai Sightseeing and Trade Company among other positions, was a haiku poet that studied under Kyoshi and was active in the Japanese literary magazine "Hototogisu," etc. It is thought to be made up of items that he collected in Kitakyushu during his time as a board member of Osaka Shosen Kaisha Lines. The collection is comprised of nearly 1000 items of haikai (haiku) texts from the Edo period, and there are in particular many haiku texts from Kyushu. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog 『慶應義塾図書館所蔵奈良文庫目録』(RA@090@Mi405@1-1)
Location Special Collections Depository on the 4th basement floor of Main Library
Call number 241@
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Japanese Coal Industry Collection(日本石炭産業関連資料コレクション)
Overview This is a collection of materials relating to the coal industry held at Keio University Library with a focus on major coal mines in Hokkaido (Mitsubishi Mining, Mitsui Mining, Sumitomo Coal Mining, Hokkaido Colliery & Steamship, Taiheiyo Coal Mining, etc.) and includes a wide range of materials from the early Showa period up to the closure of the mines in the Heisei period. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog List of materials held
Location
Call number COAL@
Notes Permission REQUIRED. For details, please see the outline and user guide (Japanese version only).
Yonejiro Noguchi Related Materials(野口米次郎関係資料)
Overview This is a collection of letters received by and manuscripts of the poet Yonejiro Noguchi. Noguchi was active in the American poetry scene from his youth and he was also known as "Yone Noguchi." After returning home, he taught at the Department of English Literature of the Keio University Faculty of Letters (later professor emeritus). Collected English letters / Yone Noguchi; compiled by Ikuko Atsumi (B@936@N1@1); Materials related to recordings of Noguchi are dispersed across multiple institutions in Japan and overseas, of which this collection is a part. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog List in order of call numbers: Letters (1), Letters (2), Manuscripts, Others
Location Archive room on the 1st basement floor of Main Library
Call number PR@4
Notes Application must be made in advance to view these items.
Osanai Collection(小山内文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Kaoru Osanai (1881-1928) who laid the foundations of shingeki (new drama) in Japan. It comprises approximately 6000 volumes of texts related to modern theater. The Western books that make up two-thirds of the entire collection were purchased during Osanai's tour of European theaters between 1912 and 1913 are diverse, and consist of materials in English, French, German, and Russian. His collection of picture postcards is available in the digital collection.
Collection catalog Searchable on KOSMOS
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building
Call number 800@ - 810@
Notes The picture postcards are only available on the Digital Collections of Keio University Libraries.
Ryosai Collection(聊齋文庫)
Overview These are materials relating to Pu Songling (Ho Shorei; pseudonym: Liaozhai/Ryosai) who was the author of "Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio," which is regarded as a pinnacle of Chinese supernatural stories (approx. 700 items of Chinese texts). The majority of the collection was accumulated by the physician Masao Hirai, and related materials have been added after it was deposited at Keio University in 1953 by the Chinese Literature Research Seminar. This world-leading collection on Liaozhai's (Ryosai) origins holds many valuable materials including the handwritten manuscripts "Genealogy of the Pu family" and "Drafts of Liaozhai."
Collection catalog 『慶應義塾所蔵聊齋関係資料目録』(RA@090@Mi278@1-2),『芸文研究』(Geibun kenkyu) issue 53 (1988) pp.117-157, with the exception of rare and semi-rare books, searchable on KOSMOS.
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building, Rare Book Room and at other locations
Call number CL@RYOSAI
Notes

In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.

Documents of the Sagara Family(相良家文書)
Overview Approximately 1400 items of old documents and records dating back to the Kamakura period that were passed down by the Sagara household which served as the feudal lords of Hitoyoshi Domain in Higo Province. The Sagara family were a samurai household that ruled the Kuma District in Higo Province (present day Kumamoto Prefecture) for around 700 years. The family was appointed as the land stewards of Hitoyoshi manor where it relocated in the early Kamakura period, and after an internal clan conflict in the Naboku-cho period (Northern and Southern Courts period) and the waxing and waning of the family's influence during the Sengoku period (age of provincial wars), the household had by the time of the Meiji Restoration become the daimyo (feudal lords) of Hitoyoshi Domain yielding 22,000 koku of rice. It is rare in Japanese history for a household to remain in the same region for so long, and these documents provide details of this history. In particular, the collection is highly valued for research on Japanese medieval history, and it was designated an important cultural property in 1977. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches. Searchable using the "Keio University Old Documents Search Engine" created by the Komonjoshitu (Old Document Room).
Collection catalog 『慶應義塾大学所蔵古文書目録 相良家文書』(RA@210.5@Ke1@1-4), Keio University Faculty of Letters Komonjoshitsu (Old Documents Room; search engine available)
Location Rare Book Room
Call number 131X@1@1
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
『大日本古文書 家わけ第五 相良家文書』 (Tokyo Imperial University; later reprinted by the University of Tokyo Press; A@210.088@D2@2-5-1; other) was published as a reproduction of the documents in printing type (however, not all of the documents were reproduced).
Part of the collection is available on the Digital Collections of Keio University Libraries.
Sasaki Collection(佐々木文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Tetsutaro Sasaki (1866-1925), a scholar of Chinese literature and student of Taneomi Soejima (1828-1905). It was entrusted to the Keio University Library in 1910 and donated after his death in 1926. The collection consists of roughly 7800 volumes of traditionally bound Japanese books related to Chinese literature and Confucianism. In particular, many of the volumes are Japanese reprints of Chinese books, and the materials that make up the collection are valuable for research on Confucian scholarship in the Edo period. Additionally, the personal notations of Tetsutaro Sasaki are discernible in many of the materials.
Collection catalog Searchable on KOSMOS
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building, Rare Book Room
Call number 24@ - 34@ and various other stacks
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Saku Sato Collection(佐藤朔文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Saku Sato (1905-1996), who served both as director of the library (1965-1969) and as president of Keio University (1969-1973). The collection, which has up to 8000 volumes of Japanese and Western books, is comprised of many materials related to French literature focusing on Charles Baudelaire, Sato's main research interest, modern and contemporary French poetry, Guillaume Apollinaire, Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus.
Collection catalog 『慶應義塾図書館所蔵佐藤朔文庫目録』(RA@090@Mi279@1-4) [View on Google Books]; searchable on KOSMOS.
Location Yamanaka Book Depository
Call number 1160@ - 1169@
Notes You may request items from Yamanaka Book Depository.
Documents of Sorimachi(反町文書)
Overview Collection of 130 samurai household documents including official documents of shogunates dating back to the Kamakura period up to the early Edo period as well as handwritten documents of military commanders from the Sengoku period (age of provincial wars) such as Takauji Ashikaga, Nobunaga Oda, and Masamune Date. It also includes a few miscellaneous documents (15 items). One item in the collection, the Issaikyookuma-ukejyo (May 12, 1295), is the oldest existing example of a woodcut seal. Donated in commemoration of Keio University's 100th anniversary by the industrialist and Keio alumni Juro Sorimachi (1903-1982). Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog 『反町十郎君寄贈武家文書展覧会解題目録』(RA@090@Mi279@1-6) [View on Google Books]
Location Rare Book Room
Call number 130X@
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Takahashi Seiichiro Collection(高橋誠一郎文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of renowned economist Sei'ichiro Takahashi who served in numerous important positions including as the academy director of the Japan Art Academy, the Minister of Education, and acting president of Keio University (1946-1947). The collection has up to roughly 2300 volumes of Western books and around 1300 volumes of Japanese books; in particular, the Western books include economic classics on mercantilist economic theories and utopian thought collected by Takahashi, who professed his hobby to be searching for Western economic classics, from the time he studied abroad in the United Kingdom in 1911 through to the end of the Pacific War. Takahashi's former collection, including incunabula, has been well preserved and there are also many rare books for which the editions have been scrutinized. Additionally, many of the Japanese books have been donated, and cover a broad range of subject matter including economics, literature, and art. The Ukiyo-e prints in the collection are available in the digital collection.
Collection catalog 『慶應義塾図書館所蔵 高橋誠一郎浮世絵コレクション目録』(RA@090@Mi403@1-3); Searchable on KOSMOS
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building, some volumes held in the Rare Book Room
Call number 1100@ - 1109@
Notes Application must be made in advance to view rare books.
The ukiyo-e prints are only available in the digital collection.
Takahashi Soan Collection(高橋箒庵文庫)
Overview This is a collection of approximately 1000 volumes of literature related to the tea ceremony and Mitogaku scholarship from the Edo period used by Yoshio Takahashi (pseudonym: Soan; 1861-1937) for compiling the Taisho Meikikan (a catalog of famous tea bowls and tea caddies; 1921-1926). A student of Yukichi Fukuzawa, Takahashi served in executive roles at Mitsui, Mitsukoshi, Oji Paper Company, etc., and was active as a master of tea ceremony after his retirement. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog 『高橋箒庵文庫 茶道関係資料目録』(RA@090@Mi405@1-4)
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building (traditionally bound Japanese books); Special Collections Depository on the 4th basement floor of Main Library (semi-rare books)
Call number 208@ and various other stacks
Notes Published books are mixed in old classifications; many traditionally bound Japanese books are arranged on the shelves under call numbers beginning with 208@ (Depository of the Faculty Research Building).
Tanaka Collection(田中文庫)
Overview This is the former collection of Suiichiro Tanaka (1873-1923), a renowned orientalist who laid the foundations for the establishment of the major in history. Although centered around Chinese history books, the collection covers a wide range of fields in the humanities and comprises 2545 items and 11,894 volumes of Chinese and Japanese writings, and 1535 items and 1893 volumes of Western writings. Alongside the Mochizuki Collection, this collection makes up a significant portion of the China-related materials at Keio University. For searches, please use the below collection catalog or the "Keio University Mita Media Center Online Catalog."
Collection catalog 『田中萃一郎氏洋書目録』(RB@090@Mi280@1-2) [View on Google Books]; partially searchable on KOSMOS.
Location Depository of the Faculty Research Building, some items are kept at the Rare Book Room
Call number 1000@ - 1008@
Notes In order to view our rare book collection, you are required to make an appointment in advance.
Toyama Music Collection(遠山音楽文庫)
Overview This is a collection comprising books and music scores, serial publications, audio materials, and microfilms on music from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance up to the modern day published in Western Europe. It is centered around part of the collection that was held at the library of the former Toyama Music Foundation founded by Kazuyuki Toyama (1922-2014), a preeminent Japanese music critic. The collection continues to be expanded today, focusing on single volume books and music scores. Among the collection of some 10,000 volumes are extremely rare books such as Marcus Meibom's "Antiquae Musicae Auctores Septem. Gaece et Latine" (1652 first edition).
Collection catalog Searchable on KOSMOS. Card catalog of music scores (composers/classification) and records (composers) available on the 3rd floor of the Old Building. Card catalog available (acquisitions up to 2009).
Location Old Building, 3rd floor; 4th basement stacks of the Main Library
Call number TY@, TYN@(2010-)
Notes Persons from outside the university can use materials in the collections with a letter of introduction (referral letter) or the one-day pass (100 yen) issued at Mita Media Center. Japanese materials on Western music that were held in the collection at the library of the former Toyama Music Foundation are held at TOYAMA Kazuyuki Memorial Archives of Modern Japanese Music of the Meiji Gakuin University Library.
Documents of the Tsushima So Family(対馬宗家文書)
Overview This is a collection of records relating to the Korean envoys to Japan and the records of the So household (materials preserved at its domain residence in Edo) from among the documents of the Tsushima So family. "Documents of the Tsushima So Family" is the general name for an extensive collection of materials from a period spanning 260 years, including diaries on the governance of the former Tsushima Domain (Nagasaki Prefecture), which held a monopoly on trade with Korea during the national isolation (sakoku) of Japan. Materials from the collection are dispersed among the Kyushu National Museum, Nagasaki Prefectural Tsushima History and Folk Customs Museum, Nanki Collection (Historiographical Institute, the University of Tokyo), National Diet Library, National Institute of Korean History, etc., in addition to Keio University. Of these, the items held at the Kyushu National Museum, the National Diet Library, and the Keio University Library are designated as important cultural properties. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches. Searchable using the "Keio University Old Documents Search Engine" created by the Komonjoshitu (Old Document Room).
Collection catalog 『慶應義塾大学所蔵古文書目録 武家文書 宗家・柚谷家』(RA@210.5@Ke1@1-5); 『宗家記録目録』 (Rare Book Room); 『対馬宗家文書』 (microfilms / Records of Korean Envoys to Japan only) Vol. 1 Guide Issue (1-2) (YA@578@1@Guide-1-2); Keio University Faculty of Letters Komonjoshitsu (Old Document Room; search engine available)
Location 4th basement stacks of the Main Library (microfilms / Records of Korean Envoys to Japan only); the Rare Book Room (originals)
Call number 91@~94@ (originals), YA@578 (microfilms)
Notes Use of the microfilms (YA@578) is prioritized for Records of Korean Envoys to Japan. Application must be made in advance to view the originals
. Part of the collection is available on the Digital Collections of Keio University Libraries.
Letters of Valéry Collection(ヴァレリー書簡コレクション)
Overview This is a collection of 472 letters by the leading twentieth century French poet and critic Paul Valéry (1871-1945). The majority of the letters are addressed to Lucienne, the wife of the director of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (National Library of France) Julien Cain, and Valéry's lover in later life Jean Voilier (1903-1996; her real name was Jeanne Loviton) The collection is primarily made up of private correspondences to Voilier, for which the pivotal piece is the letter poem "Coronilla" in particular. Because the letters in the collection are all private correspondences, you are required to get permission in advance from the copyright owners i.e. both the senders and the recipients of the letters. Registered under the title of "Letters of Paul Valery" on KOSMOS.
Collection catalog List in order of call numbers
Location Rare Book Room
Call number 170X@12@331@1
Reference materials 『現代フランス文学受容と展開 : ヴァレリー、コクトーの未公開草稿を中心に』/ 牛場暁夫[ほか]展示図録編集・執筆 東京 : 慶應義塾図書館, 2009.10 (Illustrated catalog of the 22nd Keio University Library Rare Books Exhibition; several pieces from the Valéry collection have been partially translated.)
『コロナ/コロニラ : ヴァレリー詩集』 / 松田浩則共訳, 中井久夫共訳 東京 : みすず書房, 2010.6 (contains translations of 21 of Coronilla's 133 poems based on manuscripts held in the collection at the Bibliothèque nationale de France.)
「三田文学」No.102 (2010年夏季号)(includes the first translations of 22 poems from "Coronilla" as part of a special edition on Paul Valéry [translated by Junichi Tanaka and Junro Rissen; commentary by Tatsuya Tagami].)
Notes In order to view Paul Valéry's letter collections, you are required to get permission in advance from the copyright owners i.e. both the senders and the recipients of the letters.
Please be aware that the original copies are private and unavailable for viewing. You are permitted to access digital images only.
No duplication of the digital images is allowed. You are also prohibited to take photos or record videos of the images.
Documents of Warabishuku(蕨宿文書)
Overview This is a collection of 149 items of old documents and records written at Warabishuku (now Warabi-shi in Saitama Prefecture), a post town on the Nakasendo highway in the Edo period. The collection largely consists of documents on the number of houses and inhabitants such as records on people coming and going and Shumon-ninbetsu-cho (family registers), covering a period from the Bunsei era (1818-1830) up to the first year of Meiji (1868). Other materials in the collection include copies of official documents relating to post horses stationed at Warabishuku and the work dairies of the Okada Kahee household that headed the post town. Please use the collection catalog stated below for searches.
Collection catalog List in order of call numbers
Location Archive room on the 1st basement floor of Main Library
Call number PR@2@1
Notes Application must be made in advance to view these items.