The University of Tokyo: Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia Library (東洋文化研究所図書室)

About the Library:

The library of Asian Studies in one of world's leading research facilities in Asia.   The library holds a wide variety of library materials related to politics, economics, history, literature, religion, and the arts of the Asian region as well as North Africa. These materials are available in a variety of languages: Japanese, Western languages, Chinese (including classical Chinese), Korean, Arabic, Thai, Persian, Turkish, Sanskrit, Indonesian, and many more.   The Chinese Classics are prominently featured at the library. Furthermore, the library holds a large selection of rare materials related to the West and South Asian regions.  

About the Institute of Advanced Studies on Asia:

In November 26, 1941, the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, one of the most distinguished centers of Asian studies, was founded to serve as a research facility for the comprehensive study of Oriental culture. Research labs and the institute of economic and commercial sectors were part of the department, with 3 divisions: Philosophy, Literature, and History.  Today, the Institute consists of 4 departments:  Pan Asian Studies, East Asian Studies, South Asian Studies, and West Asian Studies with disciplines of history, literature, religious studies, art, political science, law, economics, geography, anthropology, and architecture.

Since the 1950s, the Institute has continuously focused on interdisciplinary research combinining analyses of documentary materials and field research. Major research projects include the Iran-Iraq Archaeological Expeditions, the Mission for Indian History and Archaeology, and the photographic collection of Chinese paintings.

In addition, the Library's Asian studies collections, especially Chinese materials, are among the best and largest in the world.  Furthermore, in 1966, the Institute established the Documentation Center for Asian Studies to facilitate the use of documentary research materials for Asian studies.  In 1999, the Documentation Center for Asian Studies was renamed the Research and Information Center for Asian Studies (RICAS).  The new center focuses on collecting and facilitating the use of research materials in various media in addition to text-based materials.

Since its opening, the Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia has actively increased academic contacts with various research institutions in Asia, including the Center of Asian Studies at the University of Hong Kong, Fudan University in Shanghai, the Department of Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore, and the Center for Japanese Studies of the University of Indonesia.

Collection Size: 

• Books: over 600,000 volumes

• Periodicals: 5,600 titles

Focus: China, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Islamic region

Notable Collection(s):

• 大木文庫(The Oki Collection): 中国法制関係書 (Chinese traditional law) including hundreds of rare official documents donated from Ōki Hajime (大木幹一) when the research facility was founded (45,452 items).

• The Daiber Collection I : Arabic manuscripts concerning Islamic religion, idea, history (367 items).

• The Daiber Collection II : Arabic manuscripts from 12 century to the early 20 century (120 items).

Note: The Guide uses the ALA/LC standard romanization, however, it also reflects a different romanization system used by an individual institution or collection.

Using the Library

Prior to the Visit  (Advance Inquiry and Preparation Required)

• Please verify the desired material is available by using UT OPAC or other library catalog.

University or Research institution Affiliate:

• Please ask your home institution library to contact them to verify the desired material is available.

Other:

• Please download and fill out "browsing application (閲覧申請書)." 

• Please send the form to:

Upon Arrival:

• Reception Hours: 9:20-11:50 and 13:00-16:30

• Please present some form of personal ID.

• Most library materials are stored at the closed stack room. Please fill out a library material request form (閲覧図書請求票 Etsuran tosho seikyūhyō) and submit at the service counter.

• Up to 10 books or 5 folding cases per form

Photocopy:

• Service Hours: 9:30 - 16:30

• Photocopy services are provided in accordance with Japanese copyright laws.

• Please fill out an application form (文献複写申込書 Bunken fukusha mōshikomisho) and submit the form at the service counter.

• Copy Fee:
  • Black: 10 yen
  • Color: 50 yen

Note: The following materials cannot be photocopied: thread stitch binding books (e.g., Chinese classics) and some rare books.

We are constantly improving the guide contents and we want your opinion.

For all comments and questions about the Guide, please e-mail us:

mlaguide@nccjapan.net