The strengths of the Japanese collection are in literature and history with modern Japanese literature being the strongest. The library has a good collection of complete works of representative modern writers and poets. Classical Japanese literature in original text is also well represented. Valuable sets, such as Nihon Koten Bungaku Taikei and Nihon Koten Zenshu are held.
In history, the emphasis is on the period since Meiji (1868). Valuable historical sources, like Dai Nihon Shiryo and Nippon Shiseki Kyokai Sosho, are held.
In addition, there is a wide range of academic journals and reprints of Japanese literary journals. Japanese art is also well represented in the Art Folio Collection.