Japanese Studies
The Japanese Studies Collection includes Japanese-language books; reels of microfilm; microfiche; videos; audiovisual materials. The library subscribes to various journal titles including major newspapers.
The Japanese collection is especially strong in traditional Japanese studies areas: literature, history, Buddhism, and art history.
The Japanese Collection at Columbia University, founded in 1927 by Dr. Ryusaku Tsunoda, has since developed into one of the outstanding Japanese collections in the country. Dr. Tsunoda envisioned that the collection of Japanese materials would help foster a sound relationship between the United States and Japan that would be based on accurate and ever-deepening knowledge. He succeeded in convincing a number of both American and Japanese friends of the importance of his undertaking. The first response from Japan was an initial gift of some 5,000 books from the Imperial Household as well as from groups of Japanese financiers, industrialists, statesmen, academics, and private citizens. Learn more.
Go to Japanese Rare Books & Special Collections
Our collections include Japanese rare books, rare book reproductions, and special collections. Browse our list of collections, or search for our collections in Columbia University's library catalog, CLIO, to access detailed collection catalog records.
- Center on Japanese Economy and Business
- Center for Japanese Legal Studies
- Columbia Center for Buddhism and East Asian Religion (CBEAR)
- Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures
- The Donald Keene Center of Japanese Culture
- The Institute for Japanese Cultural Heritage Initiative (formerly the Institute for Medieval Japanese Studies)
- Weatherhead East Asian Institute
Chiaki Sakai
Japanese Studies Librarian
- Starr East Asian Library