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Nichibunken is an international hub
supporting research
on Japanese culture.

The International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken), founded in 1987, pursues international, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive research on Japanese culture. Research themes are established from an international perspective, enlisting the participation of numerous scholars from Japan and abroad. Interdisciplinary team research is the Center's fundamental mode of scholarship.​

Nichibunken's faculty includes scholars specializing in many different fields. Active research activities are underway at the Center, supported by visiting research scholars and fellows from around the world and other researchers.​

The Nichibunken Library is known for its distinctive round reading room. Scholars and students from both Japan and abroad use this facility for its broad collection of resources for studying Japan. The library puts particular effort into collecting Japanese studies books, documents, and materials in other languages.​

Latest News

Nichibunken News 2025.12.10 Nichibunken Academic Encouragement Award 2025 Debriefing Session (Awardee: Ms. Suyoung KIM) (November 20th, 2025)
機関拠点型基幹研究プロジェクト Awards
Databases 2025.12.09 Nichibunken Databases (Heian-Period Chronicles)
Publications 2025.11.21 "Our Desired Modernity is so Near and yet so Far" out now in NICHIBUNKEN NEWSLETTER
NICHIBUNKEN NEWSLETTER
Publications 2025.11.07 "From Small Things to Big History: What Kelp Reveals about Early Modern Japan’s Globalization" out now in NICHIBUNKEN NEWSLETTER
NICHIBUNKEN NEWSLETTER
Library 2025.11.07 Inventory will be conducted【11/11-11/13】
Databases 2025.11.06 New Book Added in the Rare Books and Maps on Japan in European Languages Database (Hagenaer)
News List

Events

For ResearchersDate:2026.01.22 (Thu) The 262nd Nichibunken Evening Seminar

Social Sciences and Empire: The Economists of Keijō Imperial University and the Colonial State

Please refrain from taking photos, recording videos, or audio recording.

To members of the media: If you wish to conduct interviews or media coverage, please sign up: in advance using the application form.

Nichibunken Evening Seminar
For ResearchersDate:2026.02.14 (Sat) シンポジウム

世紀転換期の西洋における日本表象
ーパリとロンドンを中心とする文化的交差ー

Please refrain from taking photos, recording videos, or audio recording.

「社会共創コミュニケーションの構築」事業
Open EventDate:2026.03.14 (Sat) Symposium: Multiple Origins of Photography: A Historical Reconsideration through Japanese and French Perspectives

Symposium: Multiple Origins of Photography: A Historical Reconsideration through Japanese and French Perspectives

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「社会共創コミュニケーションの構築」事業
Open EventDate:2026.03.10 (Tue) - 2026.03.23 (Mon) Exhibition: The Beginnings and Early Spread of Photography: From the Collections of Nichibunken and Kagoshima University

Exhibition: The Beginnings and Early Spread of Photography: From the Collections of Nichibunken and Kagoshima University

No Photos

「社会共創コミュニケーションの構築」事業
Open Events Events for Researchers

国際日本文化研究センター - International Research Center for Japanese Studies

The International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken), founded in 1987, pursues international, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive research on Japanese culture.
Research themes are established from an international perspective, enlisting the participation of numerous scholars from Japan and abroad. Interdisciplinary team research is the Center's fundamental mode of scholarship.

Greetings from the Director
Activities

Nichibunken's faculty includes scholars specializing in many different fields. Active research activities are underway at the Center, supported by visiting research scholars and fellows from around the world and other researchers.

Faculty Research Activities Graduate Education

Endeavors by Nichibunken- HIGHLIGHTS

Nichibunken Open Access
The Open Access repository collects and offers public access to the research results of Nichibunken faculty and related scholars featured in Nichibunken publications or in journals published by commercial presses and academic societies.
日本関係欧文史料の世界
This site deals mainly with books, maps, manuscripts, musical scores and other works related to Japan by Westerners before the opening of Japan to the West in 1853. In this site you will find detailed explanations about these works from various perspectives and gain an understanding about how Westerners perceived Japan. Most texts are in Japanese.
NICHIBUNKEN NEWSLETTER
The NICHIBUNKEN NEWSLETTER is an online bulletin available in both Japanese and English. It offers reports on research projects, messages from visiting research scholars, publications, and other latest information from Nichibunken. You can also read a series of essays by Inoue Shōichi, director-general of the Center.
NIHU Transdisciplinary Projects (Institute-based Project)
This large-scale project aims to further develop Japanese studies around the world by expanding the Consortium for Global Japanese Studies overseas. It is a NIHU Transdisciplinary Project.
Nichibunken Academic Encouragement Award / JF-Nichibunken Fellowship Program
The International Research Center for Japanese Studies (Nichibunken) is launching two new programs: the Nichibunken Academic Encouragement Award, and the JF-Nichibunken Fellowship Program. These programs will enable doctoral students working on their dissertations and postdoctoral researchers to spend time in residence at Nichibunken.
上廣国際日本学研究部門 ウェブサイト
The U-GJS supports and cultivates the next generation scholars while promoting the globalization of the field. By encouraging academic dialogue across generations, it integrates fresh perspectives from young scholars and enhances their educational development. Through these initiatives, we aim to create an open and internationally engaged Japanese Studies community, bringing scholars together across borders.

Special page for events and exhibitions

  • Online Museum: "Maternal Health and Images of the Body in Japanese Ukiyo-e"

    How was childbirth portrayed in ukiyo-e? We have generated an "online museum" based on the current exhibition at the University of California, San Francisco Library.

  • Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Iwakura Mission (1871-1873)

    Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the Iwakura Mission (1871-1873)

    Nichibunken and the Kyoto International Manga Museum created manga versions of the Iwakura Mission’s principal figures to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

  • Special page for Nichibunken Open Day (Academic year 2023)

    Visitors can enjoy videos and online exhibitions of resources curated under the theme “Nichibunken from an Asian Viewpoint (アジアの中の日文研)”.

  • 「縮小社会のエビデンスとメッセージ」展

    Evidence and Messages from a Shrinking Society: Population and Economy / Healthcare and Social Welfare / Education and Culture / Local and International / and Manga

    This special exhibition was held at the Kyoto International Manga Museum to broadly question the theme of the team research project "Cultural Creativity in a Shrinking Society".

  • “Emaki as Manga” Project: A Study on Reading Picture Scrolls “Emaki” in a Manga Format

    Replacing picture scrolls “Emaki” with Manga format. This Nichibunken project pursues a completely new way of reading traditional Japanese picture scrolls. Seems like it could be, but it wasn't!

  • Akashi Hiroakira and Shimadzu Genzō: Trailblazers of Modern Science and Technology in Kyoto

    Featuring abundant resources archived at Nichibunken, Kanda University of International Studies, and Shimadzu Foundation Memorial Hall, this online exhibition explores the unique endeavors through which Akashi and Shimadzu contributed to science and technology education in Kyoto.

データベース- DATABASES

Nichibunken makes publicly available databases that feature Japanese studies materials from the Center’s collection, faculty research results, and externally archived texts and images.

Databases

図書館- Library

The Nichibunken Library is known for its distinctive round reading room. Scholars and students from both Japan and abroad use this facility for its broad collection of resources for studying Japan.
The library puts particular effort into collecting Japanese studies books, documents, and materials in other languages.

Library

Official Nichibunken YouTube channel

As a research institution open to the public and in order to assure that the Center’s achievements benefit society, Nichibunken shares the results of lectures, symposiums, and other research activities via its official YouTube channel.

Pick Up !
Video Introduction to Nichibunken
Watch on YouTube
Official Nichibunken YouTube channel

出版物- PUBLICATIONS

We post information here about the latest books written by faculty and Nichibunken’s publications. The full text of many of the publications is accessible through Open Access.

Faculty Publications

INOUE Shōichi
阪神ファンとダイビング―道頓堀と御堂筋の物語
Edited by KOMATSU Kazuhiko, Translated by 马 云雷
鲶鱼之怒：日本大众文化中的天灾·疫病·怪异
Faculty Publications Archives

Nichibunken publications

"NIHON-KENKYŪ" henshū iinkai
Nihon kenkyū : No. 71
"NIHON-KENKYŪ" henshū iinkai
Nihon kenkyū : No. 70
List of Nichibunken publications

Opportunities

Graduate Education 2025.10.10 Admission for Research Students
Call for Papers 2025.06.06 Submission Guidelines for "Nihon kenkyū" No. 73 (Deadline for Submissions: 31 October 2025)
Call for Papers 2025.05.01 Submission Guidelines for Japan Review
Call for Papers 2023.12.27 Submission Guidelines for Nihon kenkyū No. 70 (Deadline for Submissions : 15 April 2024) (* Application has been closed.)

Links

Restaurant Akaoni
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