Murakami Collection

Assembled by Murakami Hamakichi and based on his Meiji bungaku shomoku, the 9,100-volume Murakami Library was intended as a source for the study of the Meiji era (1868-1912). Consequently, although rich in literature, it encompasses fields beyond belles-lettres—the social sciences, philosophy and religion—and includes Meiji translations of Western works. Artistically, the collection contains hundreds of hand-pressed kuchi-e as well as scores of volumes whose illustrations and cover art have become icons of Meiji aesthetics and sensibility. Researchers wanting an overview of the collection are referred to Murakami’s Meiji bungaku shomoku, in the East Asian Library. Individual items in the collection can also be located though OskiCat. The collection is in the process of digitizing, and will be available online in the ear future.