NDL Image Bank

Before the Internet and even before television, books were a major source of visual information.
The NDL Image Bank showcases items from the National Diet Library's substantial collection of visual materials, including ukiyo-e woodblock prints, books, magazines, and other forms of published media.

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Patterns and Designs

This section introduces patterns for architectural decoration and furnishings, patterns for clothing and fabrics, and books containing designs and patterns for crafts and printed materials.

52 images

Kyuko zufu

求古図譜（織文之部）

62 images

Yatsuo no tsubaki

八丘椿やつおのつばき

34 images

Hyaku cho zuan (One hundred butterfly designs)

百蝶図案

98 images

Waritsuke to sarasa

割附ト更紗

53 images

Hisui Sosaku Zuanshu

非水創作図案集

48 images

Umetsukushi

梅つくし

53 images

Saibi

彩美

36 images

Bingata

紅型びんがた

Beautiful Japanese Landscapes

This section introduces beautifully colored Japanese landscapes from ukiyo-e prints by UTAGAWA Hiroshige and others, as well as shin-hanga (new prints) from the Meiji, Taisho, and early Showa periods.

177 images

Shin-hanga of KAWASE Hasui

川瀬巴水の風景版画

87 images

KOBAYASHI Kiyochika’s Kosen-ga

小林清親の光線画

45 images

Lithograph Works of ODA Kazuma

織田一磨の石版画

43 images

Mt. Fuji

富士山

Colored Landscape Photographs

50 images

For remembrance : sixty views of sights and scenes in unique Japan

鉄道省の写真帳

67 images

Famous scenes in Japan

100年前のカラー写真

Yokai (Specters and Ghosts)

39 images

Kyosai hyakki gadan (Kyosai’s paintings of the demon horde)

暁斎百鬼画談

13 images

Hyakki yagyo emaki (Night parade of the demon horde)

百鬼夜行絵巻

141 images

Yokai paintings of TORIYAMA Sekien

鳥山石燕の描いた妖怪

Column

Kimodameshi (Test of Courage): Hyaku-monogatari (world of a hundred tales)

Kawaii Edo, Meiji and Taisho Periods

53 images

Bunpo Soga

文鳳麁画(ぶんぽうそが)

102 images

Omochiya chikusa (An anthology of toys) by KAWASAKI Kyosen

川崎巨泉のおもちゃ絵集『おもちや千種』

48 images

Souvenirs from Temples and Shrines in the Edo Period

江戸時代の寺社の名物品

42 images

Ehon mizu ya sora

絵本水や空

From 100-Year-Old Magazines

150 images

Seji Gaho

『世事画報』より

118 images

Hosun

美術文芸雑誌『方寸』

Chronicle of the Year in Nishiki-e

This section introduces seasonal events and customs depicted in nishiki-e of the Edo period.

23 images

Irises

あやめ・花菖蒲

15 images

Fireflies

蛍

Column

Hazuki (August)

Column

Nagatsuki (September）

I Am a Cat and Illustrations

These are illustrations for I Am a Cat, a famous novel in the Meiji era. In addition, there are illustrations for the magazine Hototogisu in which I Am a Cat was serialized, as well as works by the artists who drew those illustrations.

21 images

Illustrations for NATSUME Soseki's Wagahai wa neko de aru (I am a cat)

夏目漱石『吾輩ハ猫デアル』の挿絵

140 images

Cover and illustration of the magazine Hototogisu

雑誌『ホトトギス』の表紙と挿絵

12 images

HASHIGUCHI Goyo Hanga shu

橋口五葉版画集

Animals in Illustrations

66 images

Dogs

犬

64 images

Cats

猫

Botanical Illustrations

This section introduces natural history illustrations in the Edo period, botanical illustrations in the Meiji period, botanical illustrations depicting seasonal flowers, and other materials.