For a long time, portraits have attracted many viewers with their unique charm. "Portraits of Modern Japanese Historical Figures" presents portrait photographs of approximately two hundred statesmen, government officials, military officers, businessmen, and others who had an impact on constructing modern Japanese society. The people portrayed in these photographs range from famous persons such as the first Prime Minister, Ito Hirobumi (1841-1909), down to "persons of the moment" who have been forgotten with the passage of time. The portraits included in this exhibition have been selected from the photographic publications owned by the NDL. Each photograph is displayed with a brief biography that will help you to find out about the subject's life and work.

Ogino, Ginko (1851-1913)
Doctor, Pharmacist, etc.: 
Japan’s first woman doctor
Source : Kindai Meishi no Omokage vol.1 
b&w ; 11.1x8.1 cm

Saigo, Takamori (1827-1877)
Statesman: Leader of the Meiji Restoration
Source : Kinsei Meishi Shashin vol.1
b&w ; 27.0x21.0 cm

Biblia Latina. Venice: Franciscus Renner, de Heilbronn and Nicolaus de Frankfordia, 1475. 1 v. GW 4216. Typ.2:75G, Typ.3:150G

In the world of books, the word Incunabula refers to books that were printed using metal type up to the year 1500. "Incunabula - Dawn of Western Printing -" presents very precious materials produced in the age of the birth of Western printing. This exhibition consists of 13 incunabula and 55 incunabula leaves selected from the NDL Incunabula collection. An outline "What are incunabula?" and lists of "GfT Fonts" (facsimile of fonts that incunabula printers used) are included. To introduce the world of Incunabula and Western printing in depth, we provide several columns that explain the backgrounds and characteristics of Incunabula. A glossary, a chronological table and bibliographical references are also available.

Terentius Afer, Publius. Comoediae. Strasburg: Johann (Reinhard) Grüninger, 1 Nov. 1496. GW M45481. Typ.17:138G, Typ.22:89/90R, Typ.23:64R, Typ.33:48G