Art and Architecture Bibliographies (Subject Bibliography) Published in the Japanese Language

updated on August 13th, 2026
by Humanities Room

This webpage introduces search tools (subject bibliographies) chiefly in the Japanese language available mainly in the Tokyo Main Library Humanities Room to find reference resources (books, journal articles, etc.) related to art and architecture. Basic bibliographies are often listed in each item of encyclopedias or as literature cited of handbooks and so on.

To search for journal articles, please refer to Article Index of Periodicals in Japanese.

Numbers shown in brackets 【】 indicate the NDL call number for an item.

The [Range] field indicates the years during which the material of interest was cataloged and the material format.

1. General

"Nihon bijutsu nenkan" (Year Book of Japanese Art) (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties et al. 1936- 【Z42-82】et al.)
Bijutsu Kenkyujo, ed., "Nihon bijutsu nenkan" (Year Book of Japanese Art) (Kokusho Kankokai　1996　【K111-G15】)
*Reprint of the preceding material (1936-1943) 【Z42-82】et al.
[Range] 1936-. Books, parts of art exhibition catalogs, periodicals and newspaper articles (depending on the period)
[Index] None
[Notes] Includes 'Bibliography of art,' 'Bibliography of articles in periodical publicationas' and 'Bibliography of published art exhibition catalogs' since 2000. PDF files since 1936 are available in the Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties - Publications.
Bijutsu Kenkyujo, ed., "Toyo bijutsu bunken mokuroku: teiki kankobutsu shosai kobijutsu bunken" (A bibliography of Oriental antique art: bilbliography of published journals) (Hakurinsya Shoten(hatsubai)　1967　【K1-3】)
*Reprint of the 1941 edition 【703.1-B79t】
Tokyo Kokuritsu Bunkazai Kenkyujo Bijutsubu, ed., "Nihon Toyo kobijiutsu bunken mokuroku :teiki kankobutsu shosai. Showa 11-40" (Bibliography of Japanese and Oriental antiquities: published in periodical publications. 1936-1965) (5th edition　Chuo Koron Bijutsu Shuppan　1997　【K1-G4】)
Tokyo Bunkazai Kenkyujo Bijutsubu, ed., "Nihon Toyo kobijiutsu bunken mokuroku: teiki kankobutsu shosai. 1966-2000" (Bibliography of Japanese and Oriental antiquities: published in periodical publications. 1966-2000) (Chuo Koron Bijutsu Shuppan　2005　【K1-H12】)
[Range] Meiji period-2000. Journal articles
[Order] Subject > region, period
[Index] Author name
[Notes] Includes journal articles on Japanese and Oriental antique art and architecture.
References on Cultural Properties (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties)
[Range] Bibliography related to art (Periodicals, newspapers, art exhibition catalogs, bulletins and official museum bulletins cataloged in the process of editing the "Nihon bijutsu nenkan" (Year Book of Japanese Art) from the Meiji period to 2010). In addition, bibliography of reference resources included in the publications related to the Tokyo Bunkazai Kenkyujo (Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties) (books, periodicals, art exhibition catalogs since 1929, "Bijutsu kenkyu" (Art research) general table of contents and "Hozon kagaku" (Preservation science)). Bibliography of articles from three traditional performing arts periodicals ("Yokyokukai" (Noh song world), "Nogaku gaho" (Noh plays graphic), "Makuai" (Interlude)). Bibliography of articles from Geppo Zenshu (monthly journal supplements). Bibliography of publications from collected works of art (published between 1920s-2000s). Articles cataloged by the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures (English publications and articles from January 2013 onwards) as well.
"Bigaku bijutsushi kenkyu bunken yoran" (A research bibliography of aesthetics and art history) 1985-1989, 1990-1994, 1995-1999, 2000-2004, 2005-2009 (Nichigai Associates　1996-2010　【K1-G1】et al.)
[Range] 1985-2009. Books, parts of books, journal articles
[Index] Item index, author name index
"Bijutsu bunkazai reference book" (Reference book of art and cultural assets) (Nichigai Associates　2013　【K1-L5】)
[Range] 1990-2013. Books
[Order] Subject
[Index] Title of books index, auther and editor name index, item index

2. Fine Art

Tadashi Kobayashi, ed., "Bijutsu kankei zasshi mokuji soran. Meiji Taisho Showa senzen hen" (A directory of the table of contents of periodicals related to art. Meiji, Taisho and prewar Showa periods volume) vol.1, 2, 3 and Name Index (Kokusho Kankokai　2000　【K1-G11】)
[Range] Meiji period-early Showa. Journal articles
[Order] Periodical title in Japanese alphabetical order> volume title
[Index] Author names (authors of articles and papers, the producers of works of art, names printed in the headings of articles and papers)
[Notes] Collected from 53 major periodicals related to art
Masatoshi Nakajima, ed., "Bijutsuka shoshi no shoshi :Sesshu kara Tabaimo , Van Eyck_kara_ Lee Bul_made"_ (Japanese sources on visual arts: from Sesshu to Tabaimo, Van Eyck to Lee Bul: a bibliography of bibliography) (Bensei Shuppan　2007　【K1-J1】)
[Order] Last name in Japanese alphabetical order (non-Japanese names are rendered into katakana)
[Index] Western name index in original spelling
[Notes] Collected bibliography in Japanese of approximately 2,600 artists and people involved in art in and outside Japan from the Middle Ages to the present
"Bijutsuka bunken mokuroku. Nihon hen" (Bibliography of artists. Japan volume) (Nichigai Associates　2013　【K1-L4】)
[Range] 1991-2010. Books, journal articles
[Order] Names in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] None
[Notes] A collection of approximately 28,000 references related to 3,899 Japanese artists from ancient to the present
"Bijutsuka bunken mokuroku. Gaikoku hen" (Bibliography of artists. Countries outside Japan volume) (Nichigai Associates　2014　【K1-L9】)
[Range] 1980-2010. Books, journal articles
[Order] Names in Japanese alphabetical order
[Index] Name index in original spelling
[Notes] A collection of approximately 22,000 references related to 1,886 artists from outside Japan from ancient to the present
Toshiharu Omuka, Yoshio Kikuya, Kyoji Takizawa, Saki Nagato, Tamiko Nozaki, Tsutomu Mizusawa "Taishoki shinko bijutsu shiryo syusei" (Composite index of emerging art in the Taisho era) (Kokusho Kankokai 2006 【K111-H77】)
[Index] Auther name index
[Notes] Collected articles published in periodicals in "Bunken shiryo ichiran" (List of refarence materials).
Yoshiaki Nishino "Zeneishi : miraiha dada kose shugi Nihon hen 2" (Magazines of avant-garde : Futurism, Dadaism and Japan volume 2) (Tokyo Daigaku Shuppankai 2019 【K111-M47】)
[Index] Name index (Japanese name, foreign name)
[Notes] Collected "Shinko Gejyutsu undo kanren ichiji shiryo ichiran" (A list of primary sources related emerging art movoment, pp. 327-403)
ART PLATFORM JAPAN＞Reading Lists (National Center for Art Research)
[Range] Postwar-. Books, parts of books, journal and newspaper articles
[Notes] Reading lists of approximately 100 works in the Japanese language focusing on postwar art in Japan. Full text in English of a part of these works can be read and downloaded.

Exhibition Reviews

Exhibition reviews ('Tenrankaihyo' or 'Tenpyo') are short critiques of exhibitions published in newspapers or periodicals related to art.

You can search for exhibition reviews and related articles by exhibition name using "Nihon bijutsu nenkan" (Year Book of Japanese Art) or References on Cultural Properties (introduced in 1. General). In addition, there are compiled resources of exhibition reviews such as the following:

Haruo Sanda, "Dojidai bijutsu no mikata: Mainichi Shimbun tenpyo: 1987-2016" (Views on Contemporary Art: Mainichi Newspapers exhibition reviews, 1987-2016) (Geika Shoin　2022　【K3-M200】)
[Range] May 1987-2016
[Order] Date
[Index] Name index, themed exhibitions index, gallery/museum index, non-exhibition-related topics index
[Notes] Collected art-related articles by journalist Haruo Sanda published in the Tokyo edition of the Mainichi Newspapers centering on exhibition reviews of contemporary art solo exhibitions and themed exhibitions held at galleries and museums.
Misao Shiina, ed., "Dojidai bijutsu no sakkatachi: 'Bijutsu Techo' tenpyo jihyo hoka: 1968-1981" (Artists of Contemporary Art: Exhibition Reviews and Commentary from Bijutsu Techo, 1968–1981) (Oishi Design Office　2026　【K3-R178】)
[Range] 1968-1981
[Order] Publication
[Indexes] Name index
[Notes] Mainly collects exhibition reviews and exhibition announcements published in "Bijutsu Techo" between 1968 and 1981.

3. Architecture

For resources on individual architectural works (buildings), please consult the research guide Articles on Architectural Works. *in Japanese

3-1. General

Architectural Institute of Japan, ed., "Kenchikuron jiten" (Architectural theory dictionary) (Shokokusha　2008　【KA21-J44】)
[Order] Japanese alphabetical order of indivisual items
[Index] Name index, term and item index
[Notes] Each item has bibliographies (Mainly Japanese books and books translated to Japanese).
Society of Urban and Territorial History, ed., "Nihon toshi-shi kenchiku-shi jiten = Encyclopedia of Urban & Territorial and Architectural History of Japan" (Maruzen Shuppan 2018 【GB8-L74】)
[Range] Ancient times-the present
[Index] Item index, name index, etc.
[Notes] Consists of primary items, secondary items and tertiary items. Each end of tertiary items has bibliographies.
The Construction Industry Library (East Japan Construction Surety Co.)
[Range] Meiji Period-. Books, journals, etc.
[Notes] A lot of bibliographic data of books and journals contains information of tables of contents.

3-2. Prewar

Hiroshi Ishiyama [et al.], ed., "Meiji Taisho Showa zenki zasshi kiji sakuin shusei. Jinbun kagaku hen. Dai 10_kan_ (geijutsu, bunka 1)" (Composite index of Japanese magazine and journal articles. Humanities volume. Volume 10 (fine arts and culture 1))(Koseisha　1995　【UP54-E16】)
*reproduction of the "Daitoa kenchiku ronbun sakuin" (Index of monographs on architecture in Greater East Asia) (Seikansha　1944　【522.039-Ky995d】)
[Range] Meiji Period-1942. Journal articles
[Order] Country/Region > subject
[Index] Subject index, Manchuria/Mongolia/China geographic name index, author index
[Notes] Articles on the architecture of each Asian nation (excluding Japan) and so on have been collected. Users can also search with Koseisha's Zasshikijisakuinshusei Database Zassaku Plus(Koseisha) (Database subscribed to by the NDL: in-library use only).

3-3. Prewar-Postwar

Hirotaro Ota, "Nihon kenchikushi josetsu" (An introduction to the history of Japanese architecture) (3rd revised and enlarged edition　Shokokusha　2009　【KA71-J20】)
[Range] Meiji Period-1988. Books, journal articles
[Index] None
[Notes] Includes "III Nihon kenchiku-shi no bunken" (Bibliographies on the history of Japanese architecture, pp.205-292) and "IV Zoku Nihon kenchiku-shi no bunken" (Bibliographies on the history of Japanese architecture 2nd, pp.293-377).
Nihon Kenchikushi Kenkyukai, ed., "Nihon kenchikushi bunken mokuroku(Bibliography of Japanese architectural history). 1987-1990" (Japanese Association for Conservation of Architectural Monuments　1996　【KA1-G3】)
[Range] 1987-1990. Books, parts of books, journal articles
[Index] Author index
[Notes] The sequel to "Nihon kenchikushi josetsu zouho dai 2 han" (An introduction to the history of Japanese architecture: the 2nd enlarged edition) .
Library Catalogue (Library, Architectural Institute of Japan)
[Range] Meiji period-. Monographs, journal articles, etc.

3-4. Postwar

"Kagaku gijutsu bunken sokuho. Doboku kenchiku kogakuhen"(Current bibliography on science and technology. Civil engineering and architecture volume) (Japan Information Center of Science and Technology　【Z16-548】)
[Range] 1958-March 1991. Books, journal articles
[Index] End of a book index (1960), annual item index, author index, etc. in the annual index (since 1961)
[Notes] Abstract focusing on leading journals in the fields of science and technology both within and outside Japan. Users can browse up to March 1975 in the National Diet Library Digital Collections. Users can search data since 1975 with JDream III (Database subscribed to by the NDL: in-library use only (Business and Science, Kansai)).
"Bunsoku. Doboku kenchiku kogakuhen"(Current bibliography on science and technology. Civil engineering and architecture volume) (G-Search　【Z16-548】)
[Range] April 1991-. Books, journal articles
[Index] Annual index (1991-1994)
[Notes] This journal is the successor to "Kagaku gijutsu bunken sokuhou. Doboku kenchiku kogakuhen" listed above. Searchable with JDream III (Database subscribed to by the NDL: in-library use only).
JDream III (Database subscribed to by the NDL: in-library use only)
[Range] 1975-. Books (anthologies of papers from academic conferences, etc.), journal articles
[Notes] Users can search bibliographies in science and technology related fields (including construction) with "JST7580" and "JSTPlus".
Architectural Journal Article Search Service(Osaka Prefecture Architects Society)
[Range] 1993-March 2011. Journal articles
[Notes] A collection of 13 architectural journals. Users can search with related keywords for items since January 2003 not found in the table of contents.
Bibliography of Architectural History and Design(Library, Architectural Institute of Japan)
[Range] 1995-. Books, journal articles