No. 116, October 2000

Selections from the NDL Collection
Ashihara Collection - on performing arts

Eiryo Ashihara (1907-1981) is widely remembered in Japan as one who has played a leading role in the introduction of ballet and chanson in particular, and Western culture in general, to the people of Japan through his activities as a critic and commentator. Likewise, his 'Ashihara Collection' won him fame as a collector specializing in the performing arts of the West.

His collection contains 5,400 Western-language books, 9,300 phonographic record, 5,200 sheets of chanson scores, 200 reels of recorded tape, 200 posters, 220 volumes of his personal notes, in addition to quite number of photographs, theater programs, and paper clippings - mostly on such subjects as ballet, chanson, drama and circus. Indeed, the collection impresses with its overwhelming excellence as a record tracing the modern development of the arts in question. 

Mr.Ashihara was captivated by the performing arts when as a boy he saw Anna Pavlova dance. Among the pictorial materials from his collection are limited editions in luxury binding about the Ballet Russe including La Belle au bois Dormant by Leon Bakst (1922), Esquisses pour de ballet Chout (Le Bouffon) by Mikhail Larionov (1913), Vaslav Nijinsky by Robert Montenegro (1913), Ballet Russe by Ludwig Kainer (1913), and others. 

While strongest in twentieth-century publications, the collection includes beautiful older works such as Giovanni Andrea Gallini's A Treatise on the art of dancing (London: 1762), Maurice Sand's Masquess et bouffons comedie italienne (Paris: 1860) and many books on theater and circus such as Les jeux de cirque et la vie foraine (Paris: 1889). 

He majored in French literature at university and his main interest was always in French popular culture. His collection includes a great number of chanson scores, and records. 

The Ashihara Collection is available at the Special Materials Room of the NDL. 

Catalog of the Ashihara Collection in the National Diet Library