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Kuzushiji Workshop

We hold Kuzushiji Workshop every year. These workshops were aimed at foreign librarians, curators, students, and researchers specializing in Japanese studies, with the goal of mastering the basics of Kuzushiji necessary for their professional duties, based on practical knowledge and hands-on experience. To conduct these workshops, we have individually concluded memoranda regarding their organization with the European Association of Japanese Resource Specialists (EAJRS) and the Council on East Asian Libraries, the Committee on Japanese Materials (CEAL, CJM). Through these efforts, we aim to deepen understanding of Japanese pre-modern texts in Europe and North America and promote their utilization.

The CEAL series of Kuzushiji workshops has been conducted online as a new workshop in 2022, with the cooperation of the CJM’s Subcommittee on Japanese Rare Books.

Latest information

※調整中

Past Kuzushiji Workshop

  • Past NIJL/EAJRS Kuzushiji workshop

    You can access the online workshop resources (lecture slides, etc.) from the dedicated site of the co-hosted EAJRS, “NIJL / EAJRS Kuzushiji Workshop“.

    Mar 31- Apr 2, 2025 online
    Speaker: YAMAMOTO Kazuaki, Professor & OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Apr 17- 19, 2024 Université de Strasbourg (France)
    Speaker: YAMAMOTO Kazuaki, Professor & OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Apr 19- 21, 2023 online
    Speaker: YAMAMOTO Kazuaki, Professor & OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Apr 20- 22, 2022 online
    Speaker: YAMAMOTO Kazuaki, Professor & OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Apr 21- 23, 2021 online
    Speaker: YAMAMOTO Kazuaki, Professor & OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Feb 6- 8, 2019 Collège de France (France)
    Speaker: YAMAMOTO Kazuaki, Professor & OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Feb 1- 3, 2017 Sainsbury Institute for the study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (U.K.)
    Speaker: IMANISHI Yuichiro, Director-General & TANIKAWA Yuki, Project Research Fellow

    Mar 24- 26, 2014 University of Oxford (U.K. )
    Speaker: IMANISHI Yuichiro, Director-General, WATANABE Koichi,  Professor and OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Jun 5- 7, 2013 Universität Bonn (Germany)
    Speaker: IMANISHI Yuichiro, Director-General

    Jan 28- 30, 2013 Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris (France)
    Speaker: IMANISHI Yuichiro, Director-General

    Feb 13- 15, 2012 Universität Zürich (Switzerland)
    Speaker: IMANISHI Yuichiro, Director-General

    Oct 25- 27, 2011 Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Belgium)
    Speaker: IMANISHI Yuichiro, Director-General

    Jun 29- Jul 1, 2011 University of Oxford (U.K.)
    Speaker: IMANISHI Yuichiro, Director-General

    ※The information regarding positions, etc., is as of the time of the event.

  • Past online Kuzushiji Workshop (CEAL)

    Oct 16, 2025 【historical documents】
    Tree Planting Policy of the Kyōhō Reforms: Historical Documents on the Famous Cherry Blossom Spot “Asukayama”,
    Instructor: OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Oct 9, 2025 【literature】
    Reading an Edo-period cookbook,
    Instructor: YAMAMOTO Kazuaki, Professor

    Oct 24, 2024 【historical documents】
    Ancient documents of Japanese feudal lords and village records,  
    Instructor: NISHIMURA Shintaro, Professor

    Oct 17, 2024 【literature】
    Reading “The Tales of Ise” in cursive script,
    Instructor: KAWAKAMI Hajime, Assistant Professor

    Oct 24, 2023 【historical documents】
    Ancient documents of Japanese feudal lords and village records,
    Instructor: NISHIMURA Shintaro, Professor

    Oct 17, 2023 【literature】
    Reading stories in cursive script,
    Instructor: KUME Shiori, Specially appointed Assistant Professor

    Jul 13, 2022 【historical documents】
    Ancient documents of Japanese feudal lords and village records,  
    Instructor: NISHIMURA Shintaro, Professor

    Jul 8, 2022 【historical documents】
    Reading an Edo-era public notice board,
    Instructor: WATANABE Koichi, Professor

    Jul 6, 2022 【historical documents】
    Reading early modern Japanese documents,
    Instructor: OTA Naohiro, Associate Professor

    Jun 8, 2022 【literature】
    About editions in the Edo period,
    Instructor: KIGOSHI Shunsuke, Associate Professor

    Jun 3, 2022 【literature】
    Deciphering Cursive Characters (Basic Edition): Reading Manuscripts from the Muromachi to Early Edo Periods,
    Instructor: KUME Shiori, Specially appointed Assistant Professor

    ※The information regarding positions, etc., is as of the time of the event.