Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive RMDA

Overview

The Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive (RMDA) is an open-access digital repository providing free online access to digitized rare and special materials held across the Kyoto University Library Network, including the Main Library, Yoshida-South Library, Faculty of Law Library, Graduate School of Economics Library, Graduate School of Science libraries, Yukawa Institute for Theoretical Physics Library, and the Kyoto University Museum.

History and Founding

Kyoto University Library was established in 1889, two years after the founding of Kyoto University. The Rare Materials Digital Archive was developed to make rare collections accessible globally without requiring in-person visits, and to facilitate reuse of digitized materials for research, education, and creative purposes. A dedicated fundraising initiative, the Kyoto University Rare Materials Digital Archive Fund, was established to accelerate digitization efforts.

Collections and Holdings

The RMDA includes a wide variety of rare materials: natural history drawings, historical maps, rubbings, manuscripts, rare books in Japanese and European languages, and illustrated works including Otogi Zōshi (Muromachi-period illustrated tales). Notable collections include the Meiji Restoration materials (formerly held at Sonjōdō), the Nakai Collection of architectural plans for Kyoto landmarks including Nijo Castle and the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Kyō-Ō Gokokuji (Tōji Temple) Documents (a designated National Important Cultural Property), and the Bunkidan manuscript. The Kyoto University Museum contributes approximately 600,000 materials in the fields of cultural history, Japanese history, and archaeology.

Access and Usage

All digital images published on the RMDA are freely reusable without application or fee, under open-access principles. Users may browse collections by institution or subject, view high-resolution images, and download materials for research and non-commercial use. Viewing original rare materials in person requires advance appointment with library staff.