About 20,000 books book bound in Japanese style.

Investigation team of Prof. Matsubara of Kyushu University has confirmed , that the Boston Museum of Art is known for a collection of Japanese art , about 20,000 books book bound in Japanese style of the Edo - Meiji era was buried . It was kept in untouched substantially warehouse can. The book bound in Japanese style found dissipation goes together is it that unusual .
Book bound in Japanese style that was Japanese-style book binding Japanese paper describing the grass font kanji and kana variant was outflow abroad in large numbers since the Meiji era . Was carried out Robert Campbell Professor of Tokyo University professor emeritus of Nakano and Kyushu ( Early Modern Literature ) ( same ) is centered over the 2010-12 survey in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston .
Examination of the wooden box that Ernest Fenollosa from oriental art historian has donated about 100 years ago Oyatoigaikokujin of Meiji , Katsushika Hokusai and ( about 50 books) " Ja ( Ja ) Hyakkei " " Hokusai (about 80 books) cartoon " , printing and version is different even with the same title is " alternative version "has been more accommodating . Also valuable reference " different friction Hanashibu Allowed magazine ( Imawa old ) " and specter view of the spring KATSUKAWA English, spring Shosaku . Sample template that you wrote the pattern and dimensions of architecture and costumes ( template ) This , of kimono " short-sleeved kimono pattern Collection " ( about 1,000 points) , sample of ikebana " Soka Collection " ( about 300 points ) were also found .
Study of book bound in Japanese style in the art galleries and museums abroad , that not going to Few local experts can read cursive or obsolete kana . Nakano, professor emeritus said, " alternative version number is coherent systematic . Also collected many precious in understanding the evolution of the work this time " he said.
Valuable article as long as it is lonely in the state untouched just say that there is no expert to read . Return to Japan I guess would not be .



日本美術のコレクションで知られる米国ボストン美術館に、江戸・明治時代の和本約２万冊が埋もれていたことを、九州大の松原教授らの調査団が確認した。館の倉庫にほぼ手つかずの状態で保管されていた。散逸が進む和本がまとまって見つかるのは珍しいという。
　変体仮名や漢字の草書体を記した和紙を和とじした和本は、明治以降大量に海外へ流出した。ボストン美術館での調査は２０１０年から１２年にかけて九州大の中野名誉教授（近世文学）や東京大のロバート・キャンベル教授（同）が中心となり実施した。
　明治のお雇い外国人で東洋美術史家のアーネスト・フェノロサらが約１００年前に寄贈した木箱を調べたところ、葛飾北斎の「富嶽（ふがく）百景」（約５０冊）や「北斎漫画」（約８０冊）は、題名が同じでも版や刷りが違う「異本」が複数収納されていた。勝川春英・春章作の妖怪図「異摩話武可誌（いまわむかし）」など貴重な資料も。衣装や建築の文様・寸法を記した雛形（ひながた）本、着物柄の見本「小袖文様集」（約１千点）、生け花の見本「挿花集」（約３００点）も見つかった。
　海外の美術館や博物館にある和本の研究は、変体仮名や草書体が読める専門家が現地にほとんどおらず進んでいないという。中野名誉教授は「今回は数が多く収集も体系的。まとまった異本は作品の変遷を知るうえで貴重だ」と話す。
　読める専門家がいないというだけで貴重な資料が手付かずの状態では寂しい限りですね。日本への返却はできないのでしょうかね。