2023
Japan’s State library reaches rare agreement with UCC
- Access granted to one of the world’s largest libraries.
- Major step in deepening of relations between Ireland and Japan.
- Tánaiste and Japanese Ambassador to attend opening.
One of the largest libraries in the world, Japan’s National Diet Library, has agreed to give University College Cork (UCC) access to its contents, in an agreement that is the first for any university in Ireland or the UK, and one of only three in Europe.
The decision represents a major step in the ongoing deepening of relations between Ireland and Japan. The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin T.D. and the Japanese Ambassador Norio Maruyama will open the Japanese National Diet Library Portal at UCC later today, Friday 13 October.
Established in 1948 the National Diet Library (NDL) is the library of the Japanese Parliament and with over 46 million catalogued items, it is the seventh largest library in the world.
A Japanese collection in Ireland for the first time
Under the agreement scholars and students will be able to access extensive Japanese archives, research dissertations and millions of books and articles. This will establish an internationally significant collection in Cork, attract visiting scholars from across Europe, and a Japanese collection in Ireland for the first time.
The collection includes important items in Irish-Japanese cultural relations – notably over 200 original printings of works by Lafcadio Hearn, an Irishman famous globally for bringing understanding of modern Japanese culture to a Western readership for the first time.
Given Japan’s leading role in scientific research across a range of fields, and the significant use of Japanese as a research language in East Asia, this acquisition can support new research in Ireland across a range of fields.
A resource that will enhance scientific research in Ireland
Kiri Paramore, Professor of Asian Studies at UCC explained the academic impact of the portal, said: “This 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 2 million pieces propels Irish universities from a catch-up position on Japan knowledge to a Europe-leading status. It gives access to a much broader range of knowledge from a widely divergent range of perspectives, thereby deepening our understanding of the world.”
The Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin T.D. stated: “I was delighted to visit Japan as Taoiseach in 2022 to see the site of the new Ireland House, and to mark the close ties of friendship between our two nations."
“The decision by the National Diet Library to grant access to its archives to UCC is another step in deepening that relationship, and I wish to thank them for entrusting an Irish university with access to such a rich resource.”
Japan’s Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Norio Maruyama stated: "Through this NDL and UCC cooperation, a significant collection of Japanese materials will be established in Ireland for the first time. This resource will both enhance scientific research in Ireland, and deepen mutual understanding between the Japanese and Irish peoples over the coming decades. 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. This agreement represents another significant step forward in relations between our two countries."