- Kumamoto University - (original) (raw)

The University Library is composed of the Central Library, the Medical Library and the Pharmacy Library. It provides information resources and services to support the University's educational and research activities. The Central library is open from 8:40 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Library Holdings

Special Collections of Books and Manuscripts

1. The Aso Manuscript Collection (1,047 items)
This impressive collection of historical documents, formerly located in the Aso Shrine, contains a wealth of information relating to the Nanbokucho and Kamakura Periods. Of the 1,047 items of this collection, 34 volumes of 304 letters and 30 manuscripts have been designated Important Cultural Properties.

2. The Hosokawa Manuscript Collection (43,867 items)
This is the largest collection of primary source materials on the administration of the Hosokawa government (Hosokawa Han), ranging from the Nanbokucho to the early Meiji Period.

3. The Jishukan Collection (3,101 volumes)
This collection consists of books and materials used by the students of the Hosokawa Clan School (established 1754).

4. The Matsui Manuscript Collection (37,221 items)
This is an extensive collection of books, government papers, and other assorted materials chiefly concerning feudal Yatsushiro and Kumamoto.

5. The Ochiai Collection (3,501 volumes)
This is the former library of Ochiai Tokaku, a famous scholar of Chinese poetry. It contains books on Chinese religion, history, and poetry, as well as his own poetic works.

6. The Yunohara Collection (2,943 volumes)
An interesting collection of rare old books, chiefly on philosophy, published in China before 1900.

7. The Porter Collection (35 volumes)
This is the library donated by the late William Porter who taught English here from 1916 to 1925. It contains books in Japanese as well as several volumes of his own writings.

8. The Lafcadio Hearn Collection (210 volumes)
This is an extensive collection of various editions of Lafcadio Hearn and fundamental research materials about Hearn chiefly in English. It contains his English translations of Anatole France, Gustave Flaubert, and Theophile Gautier.

9. The Sugano Collection (29 volumes)
This is a collection of books in Dutch from the end of the Edo Period to the early Meiji Period. It contains books on navigation, gunnery, and chemistry.