| The "Digital Library from
the Meiji Era" was launched on the NDL web site in October 2002 with
about 20,000 titles (30,000 volumes) of books published in the Meiji era
of which the copyrights had already expired. Since then, we uploaded some
14,500 titles in August 2003 and July 2004, in parallel with the copyright
research and necessary procedures to clear copyright issues (related
article).
In October 2004, digital images of about 650 titles (700 volumes) were
newly added to this digital library. The works added this time are still
under copyright but the NDL has received from the copyright holders permission
to release them on the Internet. As shown below, several masterpieces of
Japanese literature are included among them.
Shisei
by
Tanizaki Junichiro (1886-1965, novelist)
Published by Momiyama Shoten, Meiji 44
[1911]
This is a collection of seven short stories.
"Shisei" is one of them, and was first published in 1910 in "Shin shicho,"
a literary magazine. This short story, which earned the praise of Nagai
Kafu, in effect launched Tanizaki's career. |
Omedetaki
hito by Mushanokoji
Saneatsu (1885-1976, novelist)
Published by Rakuyodo, Meiji 44 [1911]
Mushanokoji wrote this novel at the age of 25. The story is about a
one-sided love, partly fictional and partly based on his own experience. |
Nochi
no karikotoba no ki by
Yanagita Kunio (1875-1962, folklorist)
Published by Yanagita Kunio (privately printed), Meiji 42 [1909]
This is Yanagita's first book and is one of the most important starting
points for Japanese folklore. Yanagita writes about specific words and
terms, rituals and customs associated with boar hunting in a mountain village
of Kyushu. |
Shin
shukyo-ron by Suzuki
Daisetsu (1870-1966, Buddhist scholar)
Published by Baiyo Shoin, Meiji 29 [1896]
Suzuki Daisetsu played an important role in introducing Japanese Buddhism
to the West. He lived in the United States for 11 years and wrote more
than thirty books in English. This book is his first important publication
which he wrote just before going to the United States at the age of 27. |
Yume no onna* by
Nagai Kafu (1879-1959, novelist)
Published by Seikado, Meiji 41 [1908]
Kafu was under the influence of Emile Zola, the French novelist, when
he wrote this work, first published in 1903 by Shinseisha. After that,
he went to the United States and France, and wrote his famous Amerika
monogatari and Furansu monogatari. This story about a prostitute
was made into a film by Bando Tamasaburo, the famous kabuki actor and film
director, in 1993.
(*To see the images of this book, please search
from the "Digital Library
from the Meiji Era" top page.) |
Other important works added in October 2004
-
Shorai no Nihon by
Tokutomi Soho. Keizai Zasshisha, Meiji 19 [1886]
-
Doko e by Masamune
Hakucho. Ifusha, Meiji 41 [1908]
-
Hikkashi by Miyatake
Tobone. Gazoku Bunko, Meiji 44 [1911]
-
Rondon by Hasegawa
Nyozekan. Seikyosha, Meiji 45 [1912]
Now we have about 55,000 volumes digitized in the "Digital Library
from the Meiji Era," that is, about 33% of the NDL collection of books
printed in this period (about 170,000 volumes). We plan to continue the
necessary copyright clearance and enlarge the contents.
|
