Nanki Bunko, Private library in Tokyo, Japan
Nanki Bunko is a private library at Tokyo University that holds rare texts, documents, and musical scores from different periods and places. The collection includes both traditional Japanese works and musicology materials from around the world, serving as a research resource for scholars and students today.
The library was founded in 1902 by Tokugawa Yorimichi and specialized from the start in music materials and rare books. Over the following decades it acquired major collections from Europe and other places, becoming an important center for studying music and literature.
The collection brings together classical Japanese literature and musicology materials, showing how knowledge was valued and passed down over time. Visitors can see how texts and musical scores were preserved side by side, reflecting a commitment to multiple forms of written culture.
The archive is located at Tokyo University and is open for academic research by appointment. Visitors should contact ahead to arrange a visit and confirm which materials can be accessed.
The music department acquired three major collections from the West, including the library of British musician William Hayman Cummings and materials from German music scholar Max Friedlander. These acquisitions made it one of the few institutions in Japan to systematically document Western musical traditions.
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