UCC reaches 'rare' agreement with one of world’s largest libraries in Japan

Archives on the Japanses artist Hokusai who created The Great Wave off Kanagawa are among the 46 millions archives in the National Diert Library Picture: UCC

University College Cork (UCC) has become the first university in Ireland and the UK to gain “rare” access to one of the world’s largest libraries in Japan.

The move will make UCC the third university in Europe to gain access to Japan’s National Diet Library, which is the seventh-largest library in the world, containing over 46 million catalogued items.

Under the agreement scholars and students will be able to access “extensive” Japanese archives, research dissertations, and millions of books and articles, giving UCC "Europe-leading status" on Japan knowledge.

A spokesperson for UCC said the rare decision will establish an internationally significant collection in Cork, attracting scholars from across Europe, as well as establishing a Japanese collection in Ireland for the first time.

The collection includes important items in Irish-Japanese cultural relations including over 200 original printings of works by Lafcadio Hearn, a Dublin-raised writer known for bringing understanding of modern Japanese culture to a Western readership for the first time.

"Evening Snowfall at Ueno" by Utagawa Kunisada at the National Diet Library in Japan. Picture: UCC

Japan’s Ambassador to Ireland, Norio Maruyama, said the access to the works of Lafcadio Hearn will allow Irish people to “rediscover how important his contribution was to our bilateral relations and beyond”.

Professor of Asian Studies at UCC, Kiri Paramore, said it is the first time since the foundation of the State that a significant collection of Japanese materials will be available in Ireland.

“It is a window into an ancient and fascinating country that is a world leader in science and technology. The collection of over two million pieces propels Irish universities from a catch-up position on Japan knowledge to a Europe-leading status,” he said.

Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister, Micheál Martin, said the decision is another step in deepening “the close ties of friendship between our two nations”.

“I wish to thank them for entrusting an Irish university with access to such a rich resource,” he said.