For the first time since its establishment, the Kirishitan Bunko Library at Sophia University organized its own exhibition, opening selected masterpieces from its collection to the public over a two-day period on December 7 and 8. The exhibition, titled “Masterpieces from the Kirishitan Bunko Library,” was held at the University’s Catholic Jesuit Center.

Founded in 1939 by Johannes Laures, S.J., Professor Emeritus of Sophia University, the Kirishitan Bunko Library has played a central role in the collection, preservation, and study of materials related to Kirishitan history and Christianity in Japan and abroad. The library holds more than 15,000 items, approximately 2,500 of which are designated as historically significant materials. As many of these items are preserved in closed stacks, opportunities to view original sources have been limited.

This special exhibition brought together 30 historically significant materials, centered on the Kirishitan‑ban, or Jesuit press publications, that symbolize the Kirishitan Bunko Library collection, including items shown to the public for the first time. The Kirishitan‑ban refers to books printed using movable type and published by Jesuit missionaries in Japan from the late 16th to the early 17th century.

Highlights included The Sinner’s Guide (Guia do Pecador), a Kirishitan‑ban of which only a few copies are known to survive worldwide. The exhibition also featured the original edition of The Manual of the Administration of the Sacrament, regarded as Japan’s first two-color printed liturgical book with musical notation, as well as letters written by Sengoku‑period figures such as Ōtomo Sōrin, Kuroda Kanbei, and Takayama Ukon. Other notable items included a commemorative medal struck to mark the Tenshō Embassy’s audience with the Pope and the Map of Japanese Islands, considered the earliest surviving standalone map of Japan depicted on a commercially distributed European map.

Despite being open for only two days, the exhibition attracted more than 200 visitors, many of whom examined the fine details of the printing, paper quality, and bindings of the original materials with close attention. Reflecting on the preparation process, Shunta Takeyama, Ph.D., a member of the Kirishitan Bunko Library staff who was involved in organizing the exhibition, commented:

“Handling historically significant materials requires constant care, from planning the layout to adjusting viewing angles. I hope this exhibition helped convey how many important sources are preserved in the Kirishitan Bunko Library.”

Professor Kawamura also reflected on the significance of the exhibition:

“The Kirishitan Bunko Library has long provided access to its materials for researchers in Japan and abroad and has loaned items to museums and galleries. However, this was the first exhibition organized by the library itself. The library was established with the aim of advancing research on the history of Christian missions in Japan and cultural exchange between Japan and Europe, and of sharing the results of that research widely with society. At Sophia University, which was founded by the Society of Jesus that introduced Christianity to Japan, the Kirishitan Bunko Library plays an important role in embodying that mission. We hope to continue creating opportunities like this in the future.”