Tōsho Bunko, Art deco textbook library in Kita Ward, Tokyo, Japan

Tōsho Bunko is a specialized library in Kita Ward devoted to collecting and preserving textbooks and educational materials. The building uses reinforced concrete construction across two floors with multiple storage levels for its extensive holdings.

Ishikawa Shōsaku, third president of Tokyo Shoseki, proposed a textbook library in 1934 for the company's 25th anniversary, with support from Ministry of Education library bureau chief Shibata Tesshin. The building was completed on 25 June 1936, when the library opened under the name Tōsho Bunko with a calligraphic sign by Nakamura Fusetsu and about 10,000 volumes. In 1938 the Ministry of Education donated some 47,000 Meiji-era approved textbooks.

The collection reflects how Japanese education has evolved through different periods and what role printed materials played in teaching. Walking through the shelves, visitors encounter textbooks that shaped how generations of students learned.

Visitors must arrange an appointment in advance to access the collection or take guided tours of the facility. Getting in touch with the library beforehand helps ensure you can see what interests you most.

Of roughly 160,000 items held in 2025, 76,420 were designated a national Important Cultural Property in 2009 as modern textbook-related materials. The building itself is a Kita Ward tangible cultural property from 1999 and a Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry modern industrial heritage site since 2007. The library survived the April 13, 1945 air raids on the Jōhoku area, keeping its original building and garden.