Chihitsudō Bunko

Chihitsudō Bunko is a library and archive located in Kawanishi, Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. It was established on August 15, 1987, when the Kawanishi-born playwright and author Hisashi Inoue donated approximately 70,000 books from his personal collection to the town. The name "Chihitsudō" (遅筆堂) was Inoue's own pen name, and the library's rules were handwritten by him on the day it opened. In 1994, with the completion of the Kawanishi Friendly Plaza cultural complex, the library was relocated to the first floor of that facility. Over the years, Inoue continued to donate materials and books, and the collection has grown to approximately 220,000 items. Notable strengths of the collection include language and dictionaries, Edo literature, Chūshingura (the story of the 47 rōnin), and materials related to Kenji Miyazawa. Part of the collection is currently stored at the Kawanishi Town Exchange Center "Aiparu." An exhibition room dedicated to Hisashi Inoue was opened in 2010, the year of his death. The library operates under the same usage rules as the Kawanishi Town Library, and is managed as part of the Kawanishi Friendly Plaza by the specified non-profit organization Kawanishi Culture Plaza under a designated management system. It serves as a resource for researchers and the public interested in Inoue's work and related fields.

Chihitsudō Bunko was founded on August 15, 1987, when Hisashi Inoue, a playwright and author born in Kawanishi, Yamagata Prefecture, donated approximately 70,000 books from his personal library to the town. The library was named after Inoue's pen name, "Chihitsudō." On the day of its opening, Inoue handwrote the "Chihitsudō Bunko Dōsoku" (library rules), which remain a symbolic artifact of the institution. In 1994, the Kawanishi Friendly Plaza, a cultural complex comprising a theater, the Kawanishi Town Library, and Chihitsudō Bunko, was completed, and the library was relocated to the first floor of the new building. Inoue continued to donate materials and books over the years, and the collection grew to approximately 220,000 items. The collection is particularly strong in language and dictionaries, Edo literature, Chūshingura, and materials related to Kenji Miyazawa. In 2010, the year of Inoue's death, an exhibition room dedicated to him was opened within the library. Part of the collection is now stored at the Kawanishi Town Exchange Center "Aiparu." Since 2005, the Kawanishi Friendly Plaza, including Chihitsudō Bunko, has been managed under a designated management system by the specified non-profit organization Kawanishi Culture Plaza (NPO法人かわにし文化広場), established on August 25, 2005. The library operates under the same usage rules as the Kawanishi Town Library, offering lending services, reference assistance, and copying services within copyright limits.

• 2010

  Hisashi Inoue exhibition room opens in the year of his death.

• 2005

  NPO Kawanishi Culture Plaza is established on August 25 and becomes the designated manager of the Friendly Plaza.

• 1994

  Kawanishi Friendly Plaza cultural complex is completed; Chihitsudō Bunko relocates to the first floor.

• 1987

  Chihitsudō Bunko opens on August 15 after Hisashi Inoue donates approximately 70,000 books to Kawanishi Town.

A specialized public library and archive dedicated to the legacy of Hisashi Inoue, integrated into a municipal cultural complex.

• Library lending and reference services

  Users may borrow up to 10 items for 2 weeks; some Chihitsudō Bunko materials are for in-library use only.

• Hisashi Inoue collection

  Approximately 220,000 items including books and materials, with strengths in language, dictionaries, Edo literature, Chūshingura, and Kenji Miyazawa.

• Hisashi Inoue exhibition room

  Exhibition space showcasing Inoue's achievements, opened in 2010.

1. 1遅筆堂文庫 | 川西町フレンドリープラザkawanishi-fplaza.com
2. 2フレンドリープラザについて | 川西町フレンドリープラザkawanishi-fplaza.com
3. 3フレンドリープラザについて | 川西町フレンドリープラザkawanishi-fplaza.com
4. 4Chihitsudō Bunko - Wikidatawikidata.org