National Institute of Japanese Literature

National Institute of Japanese Literature (NIJL) is a research institute for the study of Japanese literature, and comprehensively collects and studies those materials. It carries out a variety of activities.

The NIJL investigates Japanese literary materials created over the past 12 centuries and also offers approximately 180,000 microfilm collections of manuscripts, block print editions which other libraries, athenaeums, temples, and shrines own.
The NIJL library houses a great number of valuable classical writings and special collections.
As well as inclusively collecting academic books and scholarly journals on Japanese literature, it offers them to the public, researchers, and students.
As a leading Japanese literary information center in Japan, it also offers databases of various information materials.
On modern and contemporary Japanese history, the NIJL researches, collects, arranges, preserves, and provides accessible reference to the public. In addition, it continues the archival study and stores considerable historical materials.

The National Institute of Japanese Literature was established in May 1972 as an inter-university research institute under the direct jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, at the initiative of the community of academic societies and scholars.

The research projects which undertaken at the NIJL

The general description of the NIJL Activities

Exhibitions, lectures, symposiums and workshops hosted by the NIJL

Using the NIJL library